About Cucurbita palmata S.Watson
Cucurbita palmata is a sprawling vine that has rough, stiff-haired stems and leaves. Its dark green leaves with light-colored veins are sharply palmate, and usually feature five long triangular points. The plant produces stiff, curling yellow flowers that measure 6 to 8 centimeters wide. It bears smooth spherical or oblate squash fruits 8 to 10 centimeters wide. The fruits range in color from bright yellow to dark green, and may have white stripes. The fruit rind is hard and thins as the fruit ages. The fruits have a very bitter flavor and are inedible. However, Native Americans used these fruits to make soap, ground the plant's seeds for use as food, and used dried gourds as rattles in traditional dance ceremonies.
