Cucurbita okeechobeensis

Cucurbita okeechobeensis, the Okeechobee gourd, is a species of gourd in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to Mexico and the United States. There are two subspecies; one is endemic to Florida, primarily in the region around Lake Okeechobee, the other to the State of Veracruz in eastern Mexico.^[3][4] Once abundant,^[3] it has state and federal listing as an endangered species.^[5] One of its peculiarities is the yellow corolla not so common in other Cucurbita species.

Okeechobee gourd
C. okeechobeensis subsp. okeechobeensis
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Cucurbita
Species:	C. okeechobeensis
Binomial name
Cucurbita okeechobeensis (Small) L.H.Bailey
Synonyms[2]
Pepo okeechobeensis Small

Description

A climbing vine, C. okeechobeensis leaves have irregular serrate margins with 5 to 7 angular, shallow lobes. Overall the leaf blades are heart or kidney-shaped. Young leaves are covered with downy hair. The bell-shaped flowers are cream-colored, with long corollas (6 to 7 cm).

• 
  Male flower at anthesis
• 
  Female flower at anthesis

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the species and subspecies is uncertain. It was formerly classified as Pepo okeechobeensis.^[6]

Some authorities divide it into two subspecies:^[7][8]

• Cucurbita okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii — Martinez gourd,^[4] - State of Veracruz in Mexico
• Cucurbita okeechobeensis subsp. okeechobeensis — Okeechobee gourd - State of Florida in United States

Ecology

It was often found growing on abandoned alligator nests in pond apple (Annona glabra) groves near Lake Okeechobee.