Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is an annual climbing plant up to 9 meters long of the Cucurbitaceae family, believed to be native to Africa, Asia, and the Americas at once. Its young fruit is commonly cooked as a vegetable, while its hardened mature fruit is used as storage containers and even material for traditional musical instruments in Africa. Traditionally, this gourd is also believed to help lower blood pressure and reduce fever.

Bottle gourd can be found in lowlands up to an elevation of 1,600 m above sea level, growing well at temperatures of 24-29 °C and rainfall of 1,200-1,800 mm/year. Favors moist, fertile soil conditions with a pH between 5.8-6.4 and full sun.

• Stem square with tendrils, hairy, spiral tendrils, green.
• Leaves simple, heart-shaped base, toothed margins, white hairs on the underside, green.
• Flowers monoecious, greenish-yellow, with 5 petals, 5 stamens, 3 pistils.
• Fruit hard-skinned, variable in shape generally bottle-like, fleshy.
• Seeds numerous, flat-oblong, white.

• Propagate using seed as seed stock. Before sowing, soak the seed for 24 hours first and transplant once 4 leaves have emerged.
• Harvest time: 60-90 days after planting.

• β-carotene, phytophenol, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, folate, saponins, polyphenols, benzaldehyde, naphthalene, methyl N-hydroxybenzenecarboximidoate, linoleic acid, palmitic acid.
   

• Has anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antibiotic activity; treats high blood pressure, diabetes, boils; reduces fever; aids digestion.

• Select fresh, non-rotten fruit. Peel the fruit and take the seeds. Wash under clean running water, then drain.
• Sun-dry the seeds covered with a dark cloth to avoid direct sun exposure, or dry using an oven (50-60 °C).
• Store the dried material in a closed container/plastic bag at room temperature.

Tabu (North Sumatra), Kukuk (Sunda), Waluh kenti (Java), Labu lente (Madura), Sambiki (Manado).