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Tropical Plant "Sweet Calabash"
P. Maliformis
Of minor status among the cultivated species of Passiflora,
the sweet calabash, P. maliformis L., has been called
water lemon (Bermuda); ceibey cimarron (Cuba), callebassie
(Haiti), calabacito de Indio (Dominican Republic);
sweet cup, conch apple, conch nut (Jamaica); parcha cimarrona
(Puerto Rico); Pomme calabas, liane a agouti (Guadeloupe);
pomme-liane de la Guadeloupe (Martinique); culupa,
granadilla, curuba or kuruba (Colombia); granadilla
de hueso or granadilla de mono (Ecuador); guerito
(Cuba). Sweet Calabash Description
The
vine is woody but slender, climbing to 33 ft (10 m) or more
by means of tendrils in the leaf axils, and draping trees,
walls and small buildings. The evergreen leaves are ovate-cordate,
or ovate-oblong, with a short, recurved point at the apex;
fairly thin, light-green; 2 3/8 to 6 in (6-15 cm) long, with
2 round, flat glands at about the middle of the petiole. The
peduncle bears 3 thin, ovate, pointed bracts, to 2 in (5 cm)
long which enclose the unopened bud and form an ivory-hued
background for the opened flower, which is fragrant, 2 to
2 3/8 in (5-6 cm) wide, with keeled, green, maroon-dotted
sepals and 5 small petals, greenish-white, dotted with red
or purple. The corona is 3-ranked and variegated white, purple
and blue.
The
fruit is oblate to nearly round-oval, the specific name implying
"apple-shaped", being derived from Malus, the apple
genus. It is 1 3/4 to 2 in (4.5-5 cm) long, 1 3/8 to 1 1/2
in (3.5-4 cm) wide. The rind is yellow to brownish when fully
ripe, thin; varies from rather flexible and leathery to hard
and brittle. The pulp is grayish or pale orange-yellow, juicy,
sweet or subacid and pleasingly aromatic, containing many
black, flat, ovate, pitted seeds.
Sweet Calabash Origin
and Distribution
This
species is native and common in the wild in Cuba, Puerto Rico,
the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and from Saba to Barbados
and Trinidad; also Venezuela, Colombia and northern Ecuador.
It is cultivated in Jamaica, Brazil and Ecuador for its fruits,
and in Hawaii as an ornamental in private gardens and in experimental
stations for use in breeding work. The United States Department
of Agriculture received seeds from Trinidad in 1909 (P.I.
No. 26269); seeds of 4 varieties from Colombia in September
1914 (P.I. Nos. 39223-226); and more seeds from Colombia in
November 1914 (P.I. No. 39383). However, the species has not
been successful in Florida or California.
Sweet Calabash Climate
The
vine grows and fruits at cool altitudes up to 5,500 ft (1,700
m) in South America; in Jamaica, between 500 and 1,200 ft
(152-366 m). Lefroy saw it in Bermuda in 1871 but the climate
apparently did not favor survival.
Sweet Calabash Season
The
fruits ripen from September to December in Jamaica.
Sweet Calabash Pests
and Diseases
This
species is noted for its resistance to pests and diseases
that affect its relatives.
Sweet Calabash Food
Uses
The
fruit, whether leathery or hard-shelled, is difficult to open
but the seedy pulp is much enjoyed locally. In Jamaica, it
is scooped from the shell and served with wine and sugar.
The strained juice is excellent for making cold drinks.
Sweet Calabash Other
Uses
Snuff
boxes have been made of the shell of the hard type.
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