Plant · GBIF taxon 2874521
Buffalo Gourd
Cucurbita foetidissimaAlso known as Calabazilla, Stinking Gourd, Missouri Gourd, Wild Pumpkin
Buffalo gourd sprawls across dusty roadsides and desert washes, anchored by a massive taproot that can weigh up to fifty kilograms. Its triangular, rough-textured gray-green leaves release a pungent, unpleasant odor when bruised, discouraging large herbivores. Bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in morning heat, giving way to smooth, round gourds striped in green and white.
PerennialArid NativeWild Vine
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthesis
Predators
- Squash bug
- Cucumber beetle
- Porcupine
ThreatsLand development, broad-scale herbicide spraying
HabitatsDry grasslands, desert scrub, roadsides, disturbed soils
Life span20–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCucurbitales
- FamilyCucurbitaceae
- GenusCucurbita
- SpeciesCucurbita foetidissima
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains toxic cucurbitacins that cause severe illness; do not ingest any part of the plant.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains extremely bitter compounds called cucurbitacins that cause severe gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for triangular gray-green leaves that stand upright along trailing vines and produce yellow trumpet flowers.
- What to do
- Avoid tasting or harvesting the gourds or roots; wash hands after touching bruised foliage.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Foliage: Look for large, upright triangular gray-green leaves lining sunny roadsides.
- Fruit Identification: Observe the green-and-white striped golf ball to tennis ball sized gourds resting on bare dirt.
- Odour Recognition: Notice the distinctive foul scent emitted by crushed leaves from a safe distance.
Herbivore (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jeffrey Kane, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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