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Abobra tenuifolia

Common name:	Cranberry Gourd	Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Author:	(Hook.& Arn.)Cogn.	Botanical references:	1
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	S. America - Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay
Habitat:	Not known
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	tenuifolia = slender leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Violales. Cucumber family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial Climber growing to 3.5m. It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The scented flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds, By Walls, By South Wall, By West Wall.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit[177]. No more details. The egg-shaped fruit is about 12mm long[219].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Requires a warm sunny position and a light soil[1, 245].
Although not hardy outdoors in most of Britain, the plant has a fleshy root about 30cm below the soil surface and this can be stored overwinter in a greenhouse or frame[1, 219], replanting it in May[245]. One report says that the root can be left in the ground in the very mildest parts of Britain[245].
A climbing plant, supporting itself by means of tendrils[219].
The greenish-white flowers are powerfully scented[245].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[219].

Propagation

Seed - sow April in a rich compost in the greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers are powerfully scented.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Abobra+tenuifolia
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.