Having seen so many cultivars of Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo
in California, and common names pumpkin, squash and gourd being
so interchangeably used for any of these, I found the same confusion
regarding Indian names Petha, kaddu and others being used in local markets.
For one I am happy that the key based on the tip of fruiting pedicel is
very satisfactory in differentiating the fruiting specimens, although
leaves and flowers may not be that reliable. For example in most sample
Cucurbita moschata calyx lobes are foliaceous in specimens that I have seen
in India, they are rarely so in most cultivars in USA.
Yesterday I uploaded photographs of Cucurbita moschata from India sold
as Kaddu, whose plants were earlier uploaded by Balkar i as Cucurbita pepo
but it turned out to be C. moschata
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/indiantreepix/Cucurbita$20pepo$20Balkar/indiantreepix/eJaUWApBwMQ/stoK6OBMSfAJ
The comments yesterday by Ushadi about Kaddu fruits uploaded by me
prompted me to make a revisit to the Keshavpur Sabzi mandi in our
neinghbourhood (a big mandi in West Delhi) today morning. Luckily I could
locate all the three types of so called petha in the market. One is very
distinct especially when you attach Agra before it, the Ash gourd or
white pumpkin, commonly used for making sweet.
The other two though quite distinct seemed to be more confusing to the
sellers. More than ninety percent sellers called them petha or kaddu, and
one being the younger stage and other the ripe stage of fruit, but finally
one person knew them well: one which can last for more than a month
(Cucurbita moschata), and another which has to be consumed within few days
(Cucurbita pepo)
*Cucurbita moschata:* Halwa kaddu, kashi phal, mitha kadu, petha-The fruit
is generally large, reaching 50 cm in length, nearly oblong, sking turning
yellowish brown when mature, typical C. moschata constricted pad below
fruit, flesh yellow. This plant was uploaded by me yesterday. Cooked as
vegetable but with slightly sweeter taste, more commonly made into halwa. I
had uploaded this yesterday. I am doing it again for comparison. Fruit
purchased can be kept for more than a month without getting spoilt.
*Cucurbita pepo: *Gol kaddu, safed kaddu, Villaiti kadu, petha, Kadddu
pumpkin: The fruit is some what depressed to nearly rounded, 20-30 cm
across, pedicel tip with closely attached proecting finger, colour green
with yellowish patches, flesh is pale yellowish white or greenish white.
Commonly cooked as vegetable. The fruit generally plucked when not fully
ripe does not last long.
I am still looking for another Kaddu from India the Red gourd, mitha kaddu,
Sita Phal but as Cucurbita maxima and not C. moschata. I hope some one will
upload from India in this episode.
<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sY9_QgaXbZo/T36Ed_uJ_iI/AAAAAAAAA2U/IVTv8AKO8hA/s1600/Benincasa-hispida-Keshav-pur-Delhi-1.jpg>
Benincasa-hispida-Keshav-pur-Delhi-1
<https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YWCIxeL7pWU/T36NBkwJUsI/AAAAAAAAA2g/jvCXeHuVkEM/s1600/Cucurbita-moschata-Kadu-Vikas-puri-DSC01845-Delhi-1.jpg>
Cucurbita-moschata-halwa Kadu-Kashi
phal-Vikas-puri-DSC01845-Delhi-1
<https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4UY3rjPCsh4/T36Pf-l9D7I/AAAAAAAAA3E/hcbDsqeDqWk/s1600/Cucurbita-moschata-kadu-Vikas-puri-DSC01846-Delhi-4.jpg>
Cucurbita-moschata-halwa Kadu-Kashi
phal-Vikas-puri-DSC01846-Delhi-4
<https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Sa0DWOsaLyQ/T36ObbQISiI/AAAAAAAAA2s/ePf0EBVVhL4/s1600/Cucurbita-pepo-Keshav-pur-Delhi-1.jpg>
Cucurbita-pepo-Safed kaddu-Petha-Keshav-pur-Delhi-1
<https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l2GDj_2kiSA/T36PCZSKi7I/AAAAAAAAA24/lX8O0tWhANo/s1600/Cucurbita-pepo-Keshav-pur-Delhi-2.jpg>
Cucurbita-pepo-Safed kadu-petha-Keshav-pur-Delhi-2
Gurcharan Singh
