Calabash Tree / Gourd Tree

Crescentia cujete

Beng: Bilati / baishnab Bel

A small tree (peculiar in many ways) with a short trunk and spreading branches (which often grows from near the base). The leaves are spatula-like, narrow, broadest near their tips and taper gradually to their bases. Large yellowish flowers grow directly on trunk on larger branches. The fruit is like a huge Bael / gourd dangling from the trunk / large branches.

Bark: Pale grey and marked with longitudinal fissures

Leaf: Up to 6’’ broadest near their tips and taper gradually to their bases; they are set in clusters of two or more leaves on small knobs or swellings scattered along the twigs, and have practically no stalks.

Flower: greenish or yellowish-white grow singly on short stalks from the trunk and larger branches (never from twigs)

Fruit: Large (up to 7-8’’ in diameter), spherical gourd, with many seeds set in soft pulp

Season: The leaves fall during the cold season and are replaced in February or March. The first blooms sometimes appear on the bare branches before the new leaves, and the flowers continue throughout the hot season and most of the rainy season. Fruits grow and ripen slowly as they remain on the tree for six to seven months. As a result, fruits are found almost throughout the year and are the easiest way to identify this tree (at least the Genus) even from a distance.

Range/habitat: This tree is from tropical Americas, native to dry forest of Mexico and Guatemala.

Trivia and notes: A closely related species, Crescentia alata can be differentiated by smaller leaves which are trifoliate (three leaflets)

Where to Find: One leaning tree in Victoria memorial compound GPS 22.54464, 88.34450