Lagenaria siceraria

(Molina) Standl. (1930)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Lagenaria

bottle gourd, ipu, long squash, white flowered gourd, white-flowered squash

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (56)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • For treatment of hehena a moe‘ole a ka po, young leaves are ingested in conjunction with dried niu (coconut, Cocos nucifera) and ‘uala (sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas). For illnesses such as papaku, hoaka, and wai‘opua the flesh of the ipu is combined with noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) and water and delivered as an enema. For pu‘ao pelu and maybe ha‘ule, the treatment combines ipu fruit flesh with leaf buds, leaves, and stems of the kukaepuaa (Digitaria setigera) (Chun 1994:117–120).

  • The hardened fruit is made into a variety of containers, for water, food, dyes, etc. (Krauss 1993:19–22). Also used for musical instruments, such as the bases of ‘uli‘uli (hula rattles), knee drums, ‘ulili, pa ipu or ipu heke (a percussion instrument made by joining two ipu, one atop the other) (Abbott 1992:120; Krauss 1993:881–83). The ipu was also used to chase away sharks (Lucas 1982:39) fisherman carried their lines and hooks in gourds and taken on sea voyages so if the canoe overturned the gourds would float and could be retrieved (Kamehameha Schools 1994:15). Ritual use includes headgear depicted by the Cook expedition (e.g., see Weber's illustration in Abbott 1992:78). They served as masks worn by priests and not by warriors, as the ipu is fairly fragile.

CULTURE

  • [I] ‘A‘ohe ipu ‘opio e ‘ole ka mimino i ka la. No immature gourd can withstand withering in the sun [without care]. No child can get along without adult supervision. [II] Ua malo‘o ka pua hue. The gourd blossom has withered. Said of a person withered with age.

  • Kinolau of Lono

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • Handy et al. (1972:215–217) suggest that the beginning of the rainy season is the proper time to plant ipu. This allows for the hot, dry summer months to bring them to maturity (in about 6 months). While the ipu is growing the vine can be propped up with a small frame of sticks (ko‘o la‘au or haka) to keep the ipu up off the ground. In addition, stones that might mar the base of the ipu are removed and grass, leaves, or a board can be placed below.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Potentially naturalizing

Island Status

Kaua'i Potentially naturalizing
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Hawai'i Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 3: 435 (1930)

Other References

Laau Hawaii (Abbott) p.16

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Lagenaria siceraria Koloa, Salt Pond Beach Park, just SW of Hanapepe, between road and salt pond low, shrubby secondary vegetation of Batis maritima and Pluchea indica Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 6463 Kauai BISH 1990-05-14
2 Lagenaria siceraria Honolulu, Bishop Museum courtyard climbing wire fence Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1944-04-06
3 Lagenaria siceraria Roadside near Ewa Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1921 Oahu BISH 1914-07-01
4 Lagenaria siceraria Amy B.H. Greenwell Gardens Preserved_Specimen Meilleur, B. 1551 Hawaii BISH 1991-12-21
5 Lagenaria siceraria Amy B.H. Greenwell Gardens Preserved_Specimen Meilleur, B. 1551 Hawaii BISH 1991-12-21
6 Lagenaria siceraria Roadside near Ewa Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1921 Oahu BISH 1914-07-01
7 Lagenaria siceraria Amy B.H. Greenwell Gardens Preserved_Specimen Meilleur, B. 1551 Hawaii BISH 1991-12-21
8 Lagenaria siceraria Amy B.H. Greenwell Gardens Preserved_Specimen Meilleur, B. 1551 Hawaii BISH 1991-12-21
9 Lagenaria siceraria Kawaihae Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. Hawaii BISH 1938-06-01
10 Lagenaria siceraria by Bishop Museum, at tennis court Preserved_Specimen Kalili, E. Oahu BISH 1941-01-21
11 Lagenaria siceraria Honolulu, bought at vegetable market on Nuuanu Avenue Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1942-07-28
12 Lagenaria siceraria Honolulu, Bishop Museum courtyard full sun Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 2577 Oahu BISH 1986-06-26
13 Lagenaria siceraria Volcano Degener garden Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 35907 Hawaii BISH 1983-12-01
14 Lagenaria siceraria Waipahu Cultural Gardens, 94-695 Waipahu St full sun Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. Oahu BISH 1986-03-10
15 Lagenaria siceraria Near Bishop Museum, on fence of tennis court near top, under monkey pod tree on fence of tennis court near top, under monkey pod tree Preserved_Specimen Kipi, N. Oahu BISH 1941-01-21