Calabash Tree

Crescentia cujete, commonly known as the calabash tree, is a species of flowering plant. It is a medium-sized tree in the trumpet vine family Bignoniaceae native to the Americas, and which is grown in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America, South America, the West Indies and extreme southern Florida. It is the national tree of St. Lucia. It is a dicotyledonous plant with simple leaves, which are alternate or in fascicles (clusters) on short shoots. Its fruit is up to 30 cm (12 in) long by 25 cm (9.8 in) wide. According to Bailey, it can occasionally be 45–50 cm (18–20 in) wide. It is naturalized in India. The tree shares its common name with that of the vine calabash, or bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria).

In Cuba, this tree is known to grow in both disturbed habitat and areas of poor drainage. It can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) tall.

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