| Crescentia | |
|---|---|
| Crescentia cujete | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Bignoniaceae |
| Tribe: | Crescentieae |
| Genus: | Crescentia L. |
| Species | |
|
See text |
|
Crescentia (calabash tree, huingo, krabasi, or kalebas) is a genus of six species[1] of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to southern North America, the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. The species are small trees growing to 10 m (35 ft) tall, and producing large spherical fruits, with a thin, hard shell and soft pulp,[2] up to 25 cm (10 in) in diameter.[3]
The fruit pulp is used medicinally for respiratory problems.[4] The hard shell can be used for containers, scoops, cups etc.[2]