Cucurbita Species, Buffalo Gourd, Calabazilla, Missouri Gourd, Wild Gourd

On May 9, 2017, WhiteSparrow from Canon City, CO wrote:

Just created this account to post here because it's been hard to find good info on this plant, and I found a really good write-up this morning that I wanted to share with other folks interested in this plant:
http://medplant.nmsu.edu/buffalo.shtm

I planted one in an oak barrel in front of my house 2 years ago, having no idea what I was getting myself into. I dug it up this year to transplant it only to find it'd grown a root through the bottom of the barrel, squeezed itself in between the bricks on the walk the barrel sits on, down through the dirt, and squeezed itself through the shale -which I don't dare dig up- and probably straight on down to China.

Be aware of this w... read morehen planting one of these puppies! As with most desert plants, they grow roots to China, and this one's particularly tenacious! Be prepared to dig long and deep to get it out again. The roots get gigantic and can grow around and through all manner of encumbrances.

That said, it's a beautiful plant, and it's nice to have something green -that doesn't grow pokey things!- grow where not much else will. I transplanted it outside the main yard, and kept part of the root to experiment with.

Regarding the um... unique odeur... it seems to only stink when it's damaged, like a defensive reaction. My oak barrel is right by the front door, so if it stunk all the time, I'd have known (I have fibromyalgia which grants the superpower of having a super keen sense of smell)! So, either dig it up, or keep it cut down to nothin' if you have one you'd rather not have around.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Have a beautiful day!

On Jul 8, 2012, stevelopez from Lake Hughes, CA wrote:

Very invasive!!! Be careful where you plant this!

On Oct 30, 2010, dulciquilt from Lubbock, TX wrote:

In west Texas the gourd grows wild in fields and along the highways in full sun. I find it hard to believe they were used for any kind of utensil as they are as fragile as hen eggs. The root can grow to be 18" across and 3'-4' long. There is research being done regarding growing them as an oil source. They produce more oil per acre than corn and the oil has more protein and less saturated fat. They would only need to seed once, then harvest every other row and let the remain go to seed . They are also called stink melon or stink gourd because when green they smell like rotten onions or really bad body odor.

On Jan 27, 2010, TXMadrone from Austin, TX wrote:

I love this plant but it grows like crazy and can be invasive. I too collect the softball size gourds to dry and display for holidays. The deer don't eat them and they last forever and are really lovely. The leaves are very rough and abrasive. Mine are native. They just showed up and propagate all by themselves each year in FULL sun.

On Jul 31, 2009, farmboyvo from Blairstown, NJ wrote:

I found this gourd in the Gila wilderness in south west N.M almost 10 years ago.I planted the seeds in my garden here in New Jersey i have been growing organic veggies for the past 18 years so it seems odd that this plant has assumed a perennial status in my zone 5 garden for the past 9 seasons it comes back from a burdock looking root(or like a carrot)white flesh that seems to handle our winters and sprout after the garden is turned in the spring.The only thing i found about it is the indians used it as a way to ween children from mothers milk.This seemed true since although it looks like spagetti squash it is so bitter it left the tast in my mouth for a long time.

On May 29, 2007, WUVIE from Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

Could there be an error in the listing?

The sun exposure is set to shade. Having
lived in New Mexico for many years, I don't
quite recall much shade, but do remember
plenty of gourds in the full sun.

On Oct 20, 2003, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

San Antonio, Tx.
In my area we call this plant just "wild gourd". It can be found from Mexico to Missouri and Nebraska. The flowers are monoecious, that is, individual flowers are either male or female with both sexes being found on the same plant. The plant is self-fertile. When the seeds are spouting, a toxic substance is produced by their embryos and there are reports that the root is poisonous. It produces small round gourds that are green with vertical off white stripes. When the fruit is ripe, it turns a yellowish color.

Many native North American tribes used and still use wild gourd as a medicine. The mashed plant has been used as a poultice to treat skin sores and ulcers and the stems and leaves have been employed as a laxative. To remove stains from clothing,... read more the fruit is sliced and simmered in water to obtain a soap substitute. The dried gourds having a thick, tough skin were used as rattles and carved to make spoons and ladles.