Mary's Light

CALABASH TREE
cresentia cujete

Common name : Krabasi, kalebas, huingo are some of the common names of calabash tree.
Ethnic names : jicara(Spanish), luch in Maya.
Scientific Name : Crescentia cujete
Origin : It belongs to the family of Bignoniaceae (Bignonia family) and also it is  known to originate from Central  America.Appearance : Calabash Tree is a small
evergreen tropical tree which can grow up to a height of 25 feet and produce fruits up to 25 cm in diameter. It has simple leaves and the bark of the tree is rough. The fruit is large, hard and green in color and takes about six months to ripen. They cannot be eaten but can be used for various ornamental purposes. The fruitsare pollinated by bats and they develop from the trunk of the tree. The seeds of the fruit are flat, small and are embedded in the pulp.

CALABASH TREE FACTS
 The flowers of the calabash tree blooms in the evening and emit a slight odour
 The flowers close and wither away by noon time.
 Bats pollinate the tree when they blossom at night.
 The bark of the tree is an excellent growing place for orchids.
 The hard fact about this calabash fruit is that pregnant people should    not use this fruit since it has been traditionally  used to induce labor.
 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CALABASH TREE
 The pulp of the fruit has medicinal properties and acts as a remedy for respiratory problems such as asthma and cough.
 It contains hydrocyanic acid which is considered as a purgative.
 The syrup prepared from the pulp is used as a medicine for relieving disorders of the chest or respiratory tract and also
     to cure dysentery and stomach aches.
 The leaves of the Calabash Tree are used to reduce blood pressure.
 The decoction of the tree bark is used to clean wounds and also to treat hematomas and tumors.

NOTES ON CALABASH TREE
 The flowers of the fruit are light green and purple streak in color and have five petals which are fused in funnel shape.
    They grow from the main trunk and limbs. The fruits grow in different original shapes. It is said that horses can break
    open the hard shell with their mouth, eat the pulpy fruit inside and disperse the seeds in their dung.
 The tree may flower and fruit during any season of the year. The tree has salt tolerance and can be cultivated in well
    drained soils. It should be planted in frost free locations since it has no tolerance for even light frost.
 The shell of the fruit is surrounded by a whitish pulp and dark brown seeds. The fruit turns into brown color when it is dried.
    At this stage the inner pulp can be hollowed to make the utensils. The calabash pods are used as bird feeders or nest
    boxes as well.

ORNAMENTAL USES OF CALABASH TREE
 The dried shell of the fruit is used to make different musical instruments and ornaments. The shell is decorated with paintings and carvings and used to make cups, dishes and containers.
 The hunters disguised themselves by fitting it over their heads with two eyes cut on it so that the gourd floated on top of the water. This helped them to swim right up to a bird and catch it.
    Instruments like maracas and guiro were also made from the shell of the fruit.
 The wood of the tree which is hard is used to make tools and handles and the split wood is used to make strong baskets. The gourd-like fruits were also used as
    hats by the hunters during earlier time.