Cucurbita okeechobeensis

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Okeechobee gourd
Cucurbita okeechob okeechob.jpg
C. okeechobeensis subsp. okeechobeensis

Imperiled (NatureServe)
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cucurbita
Species:
C. okeechobeensis
Binomial name
Cucurbita okeechobeensis
Synonyms[1]
  • Pepo okeechobeensis Small 1930.

Cucurbita okeechobeensis, the Okeechobee gourd, is a species of gourd in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to Mexico and the United States. There are two subspecies; one is endemic to Florida, primarily in the region around Lake Okeechobee, the other to the State of Veracruz in eastern Mexico.[2][3] Once abundant,[2] it has state and federal listing as an endangered species.[4]

One of its peculiarities is the yellow corolla not so common in other Cucurbita species

Male flower at anthesis of Cucurbita okeechobeensis
Female flower at anthesis of Cucurbita okeechobeensis

Taxonomy[]

The taxonomy of the species and subspecies is uncertain. It was formerly classified as Pepo okeechobeensis.[5]

Some authorities divide it into two subspecies:[6][7]

Description[]

A climbing vine, C. okeechobeensis leaves have irregular serrate margins with 5 to 7 angular, shallow lobes. Overall the leaf blades are heart or kidney-shaped. Young leaves are covered with downy hair. The bell-shaped flowers are cream-colored, with long corollas (6 to 7 cm).

Ecology[]

It was often found growing on abandoned alligator nests in pond apple (Annona glabra) groves near Lake Okeechobee.

References[]

  1. ^ The Plant List, Cucurbita okeechobeensis (Small) L.H.Bailey
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Andres, Thomas C.; Nabhan, Gary P. (1988). "Taxonomic Rank and Rarity of Cucurbita okeechobeensis". Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University. 11: 83–85.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Nee, Michael (1990). "The Domestication of Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae)". Economic Botany. New York: New York Botanical Gardens Press. 44 (3, Supplement: New Perspectives on the Origin and Evolution of New World Domesticated Plants): 56–68. doi:10.1007/BF02860475. JSTOR 4255271. S2CID 40493539.
  4. ^ Florida Plant Atlas . accessed 7.7.2012
  5. ^ Pepo okeechobeensis - Small, J. New York Bot. Gard. 31: 12. 1930.
  6. ^ "Cucurbita okeechobeensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  7. ^ "C. okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis Five-year Review" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. September 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2013.

External links[]

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