Crescentia cujete aka Calabash

The Calabash Tree, also known as Crescentia cujete, is a dicotyledonous plant that is native to Central and South America. It is a small to medium-sized flowering tree that can grow up to 10 meters tall and has a dense, round crown. The leaves are simple and alternate, and the flowers are round and bell-shaped. The Calabash Tree is the national tree of St. Lucia and is grown in Africa, Central America, South America, the West Indies, and extreme southern Florida. It is naturalized in India and is invasive in Fiji. The fruit of the Calabash Tree is used to make containers, cups, and other items, but the young fruit and seeds are poisonous if consumed raw. Cooked seeds are used to make a beverage, and the leaves are cooked and used in soups. The tree also has a wide range of medicinal uses, including treating colds, diarrhea, pneumonia, and intestinal irregularities. It can also relieve menstrual pains, ease childbirth, and procure an abortion. The leaves can be used to treat dysentery, lung diseases, toothache, wounds, and headache, while the bark is used to clean wounds. The wood of the Calabash Tree is used for tool handles, ox yokes, vehicle parts, and sometimes in construction. It is also used for fuel. In Cuba, the tree is known to grow in disturbed habitats and areas of poor drainage. As a houseplant, the Calabash Tree is relatively easy to grow and needs regular watering. It does best in long-lasting, direct light and should be positioned less than 1 foot from a window. The tree belongs to the Crescentia genus and is native to the Tropical Americas.