Fig Leaf Gourd

Fig leaf gourd  - other names shark melon, pie melon, gila, Chilacayote, alcayota, malabar gourd, siam pumpkin, thai marrow, chiverre, calabaza china, cayote, potiron cheveux d'ange, calabaza de cabello de angel, seven year melon, chiverre.

(Cucurbita ficifolia) 

This plant is commonly cultivated as a culinary ingredient in Mexico and South America. Its seeds, fruit, and greens are all edible. The fruit has a cream-white skin with green stripes and typically measures 15-20cm long, weighing 6kg. Once cooked, the inside of the fruit has a noodle-like texture. In Asian cuisine, it is often used in soups and can be a substitute for shark fin in shark fin soup. The vines are resilient and can resist disease, and the fruit can be stored for several months. It takes 80-120 days to harvest.