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Home/Species/ Common Calabash-tree

Crescentia cujete

L.

Common Calabash-tree

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161251
Element CodePDBIG08010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderScrophulariales
FamilyBignoniaceae
GenusCrescentia
Other Common Names
common calabash tree (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date2002-09-10
Change Date2002-10-14
Edition Date2002-10-14
Edition AuthorsBlythe, K. (TNC-LASP, 1993)
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
An extensively cultivated species through most of tropical America. Its natural range is obscure though it is certainly native at least to northern Central America and Mexico. Wild growing trees elsewhere are probably descended from cultivated trees. Hillsides, pastures, roadsides, and around country homes in coastal, limestone, and lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Common in savannas.
Range Extent Comments
Probably native to Mexico and northern Central America, now widely cultivated throughout the neotropics.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Frequent in savannas.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNA
ProvinceRankNative
FloridaSNANo
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (1)
Puerto Rico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mameyes AreaCaribbean National Forest11,150
References (8)
  1. Brucher, H. 1989. Useful Plants of Neotropical Origin and Their Wild Relatives. Springer-Verlag. New York. 296 pp.
  2. Gentry, A. H. 1980. Flora Neotropica: Monograph No 25. Bignoniaceae, Part. I. Organization for Flora Neotropica: The New York Botanical Garden, New York. 130 pags.
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  4. Killeen, T., E. García & S. G. Beck. Guía de árboles de Bolivia. 958 pp. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia y Missouri Botanical Garden. Quipus S.R.L. La Paz Bolivia.
  5. Little, E., Jr. & Wadsworth, F. 1964. Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 548 páges.
  6. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  7. Mills, T.H. 1957. Timber Trees of Northern Chiapas. Mexico, D.F.
  8. Record, S., and C. Mell. 1924. Timbers of Tropical America. New Haven: Yale University Press, U.S.A. 610 pages.