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Magnoliopsida
Sicana odorifera (Vell.) Naudin
EOL Text
Sicana odorifera (Vell.) Naudin
BASÓNIMO: Cucurbita odorifera Vell.
Bejuco herbáceo, trepador mediante zarcillos, que alcanza 8 m o más de largo. Tallos verdes, gruesos, sulcados, pubérulos o glabrescentes; zarcillos axilares, 5-fidos, 9-11 cm de largo. Hojas alternas; láminas 10-20 × 10-20 cm, 3-5 (7)-lobadas, cartáceas, los lóbulos profundos, agudos, la base cordiforme, los márgenes ondulados o denticulados; haz verde obscuro poco lustroso, glabro; envés verde pálido con la nervación prominente, glabro; pecíolos 7-13 cm de largo, delgados, canaliculados o levemente alados, vellosos. Flores unisexuales, ascendentes, solitarias, axilares; pedúnculo más corto que la hoja acompañante. Cáliz verde, campanulado, 6-8 mm de largo, tomentoso, los lóbulos reflexos, 10-12 mm de largo, lanceolados; corola amarilla, campanulada, 2.5-4 cm de largo, tomentosa; estambres 3; estaminodios 3; ovario ovoide, 5-6 mm da largo, pubérulo. Baya colgante, cilíndrica o elipsoide, 30-50 cm de largo y ca. 10 cm de diámetro, marrón amarillenta o morada; semillas numerosas, asimétricamente ovadas, comprimidas, con el margen más obscuro, 13.5-15 mm de largo.
Fenología: Coleccionada en flor y fruto durante agosto.
Estatus: Exótica, cultivada, común.
Especimenes Estudiados: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 12137; Sintenis, P. 5208; Stevenson, J.A. 6664.
Sicana odorifera (Vell.) Naudin, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. Sér. 4: 18. 181. 1862.
Basionym: Cucurbita odorifera Vell.
Herbaceous vine, climbing by tendrils, attaining 8 m or more in length. Stems green, thick, sulcate, puberulent or glabrescent; tendrils axillary, 5-fid, 9-11 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades 10-20 × 10-20 cm, 3-5 (7)-lobed, chartaceous, the lobes deep, acute, the base cordiform, the margins undulate or denticulate; upper surface dark green, slightly shiny, glabrous; lower surface pale green, with prominent venation, glabrous; petioles 7-13 cm long, slender, canaliculate or slightly winged, villous. Flowers unisexual, ascending, solitary, axillary; peduncle shorter than the accompanying leaf. Calyx green, campanulate, 6-8 mm long, tomentose, the lobes reflexed, 10-12 mm long, lanceolate; corolla yellow, campanulate, 2.5-4 cm long, tomentose; stamens 3; staminodia 3; ovary ovoid, 5-6 mm long, puberulent. Berry pendulous, cylindrical or ellipsoid, 30-50 cm long and ca. 10 cm in diameter, yellowish brown or mulberry-colored; seeds, numerous, asymmetrically ovate, compressed, with the margin darker, 13.5-15 mm long.
Phenology: Collected in flower and fruit during August.
Status: Exotic, cultivated, common.
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1
Sicana odorifera, the only species of the genus Sicana, is a large, herbaceous perennial vine native to tropical South America, grown as an ornamental plant and for its sweet edible fruit. English names include cassabanana or casbanan, sikana, and musk cucumber.[1]
The fast-growing, fleshy vine can reach 15 m or more in height, climbing with four-part adhesive tendrils. The large, hairy, palmately lobed leaves grow to 30 cm in width.[1]
The fruit is large, up to 60 cm long, with skin of variable color. The fruit has a delicious, melon-like taste when it is ripe, which needs high temperatures to ripen. The sweet, aromatic, yellow-to-orange flesh of the mature fruit is eaten raw or made into preserves. The immature fruit can be cooked as a vegetable.[1]
Cultivation[edit]
It is propagated by seeds. It is grown widely in the warm parts of Latin America, as well as by the Cajun people of the southern United States. It needs good drainage to grow well, and does well on an acidic mix of sand (or perlite) and rich compost.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Cassabanana". Purdue University. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sicana_odorifera&oldid=635053438 |
Distribution: Species native to South America, cultivated in Puerto Rico and the Greater Antilles for its edible fruits, which are found for sale in the public markets.
Distribución: Especie nativa de Sudamérica, cultivada en Puerto Rico y Antillas Mayores por sus frutos comestibles, los cuales se encuentran a la venta en plazas de mercados.