Mexican Calabash, Coatecomate or Jicaro – Crescentia alata – Native Plant of the Week

Introduction

Coatecomate, Mexican Calabash, Jicaro or Crescentia alata is easily one of my most favorite trees in Mexico. While they are often a medium-sized tree, they can grow to quite large old-growth sizes in height and width. They are beautiful trees with unique fruits that are cauliflorous. Cauliflorous means that they grow directly from the trunk and branches. This is not a common feature in plants where fruits usually grow from peduncles (stems) that come off of secondary branches. Their fruits themselves are even more unique than the way that they grow, they are known botanically as an amphisarcum. An amphisarcum is a specialized berry with a hard woody pericarp (outer shell) and fleshy fruit inside. The seeds are embedded in the flesh, which is what makes them a type of berry. A berry with a wooden shell. The shells of the fruit are extremely hard, requiring a saw, rock, or a hammer to get into them as I did with the one in the picture below.

It has been hypothesized that Crescentia alata evolved with the now extinct gomphotheres. Gomphotheres are elephant-like creatures that likely broke the fruits with their large hooves and fed on the fruit inside. (If you want to know what a gomphotheres is check out the wiki link on it below). There are currently no native animals in their range that are capable of breaking the fruits. The seeds within the fruit cannot germinate unless the hard shells are broken open. It is believed that their survival in its native range was dependent on these now-extinct gomphotheres. It is also believed that domestic horses and humans have been keeping the species alive by breaking the fruits open for food, containers, art, or medicine.

Description of Mexican Calabash, Coatecomate, Jicaro

Leaves & Stem

Coatecomate or Jicaro is a dry season deciduous shrub or tree of the Bignoniaceae family. It usually grows from 4 – 8 m tall but can at times grow taller. Dry season deciduous plants are those that typically lose their leaves in the dry season as opposed to winter deciduous plants in northern latitudes. Coatecomate trees can have a diameter at chest height of 30 -60 cm. Some specimens, however, can grow up to 18 m tall and up to 1 m or more diameter. The trunk can be light to dark-brown and usually has longitudinal fissures or cracks in it. The Mexican Calabash tree has a very deep root system that is adapted to growing in thin, poor, stony soils.

Crescentia alata has either simple or compound leaves in fascicles (bundles) of 3 at each node. Each leaflet is usually 1 – 4.5 cm long. Within each fascicle, the leaflet size can vary, often with one long and two short leaflets. Simple leaves are smaller than the compound ones, and the tree can contain both types.

Flowers & Fruits

The musky-smelling tubular campanulate (tubular and ending in a bell shape) flowers are tannish or reddish-brown in color. The fleshy corolla is 4 – 6.5 cm long and is often born directly on the thick branches and trunk (cauliflorous). The flowers are bisexual (containing both male and female parts). The calyx is split into 2 lobes, each about 1 -1.5 cm long. The flowers are pollinated by bats.

The fruit of the Mexican Calabash or Jicaro tree is classified botanically as amphisarca (plural) or an amphisarcum (singular). These are a specialized berry with seeds embedded in the flesh but encased in a woody pericarp (outer shell). Sometimes botanists classify it as a pepo, like a cucumber. A pepo is also a specialized berry with an outer shell but the shell, in this case, is not woody, just thicker and harder than the inside of the berry. The fruits, like the flowers, are cauliflorous and frequently grow directly on the thick branches or trunks without much of a peduncle (stalk). The seeds within are small and chestnut brown, 6-7 mm long and 7-9 mm wide, somewhat heart-shaped. The seeds will not germinate unless the hard woody shell is broken open by horses, humans, or some other mechanical force.

Similar Species Frequently Confused With

Crescentia alata or Jicaro is difficult to confuse with other genera of plants with its cauliflorous flowers and unique amphisarca fruits with their hard wooden shells. However, there are a total of 6 species in the Crescentia genus. Most are quite rare or geographically isolated. They can be distinguished as follows:

• Crescentia cujete is the only species Crescentia alata could really be confused with as their ranges do overlap. Except C. cujete has a much wider range in the Caribbean and South America. It has also been introduced globally in various areas of the tropics as opposed to just a few. C. cujete grows to similar sizes, but their leaves tend to be more ovate in shape and tend to be longer, up to 20 cm in length. The cauliflorous flowers are similar in size and shape but tend to be yellow in color with purple stripes as opposed to tan or reddish-brown. They have similar fruits except that theirs are much larger than Crescentia alata. The fruits of C. cujete are more bowl-sized than cup-sized, and they are frequently used as bowls in tropical areas where they are grown or are native to.
• Crescentia amazonica is a very rare species found only in the state of Para, Brazil near the Amazon River. It is not likely to be confused due to its remote location.
• Crescentia portoricensis is another rare species endemic to the island of Puerto Rico where it is threatened by habitat loss. It is not found in continental North or Central America.
• Crescentia linearifolia is a fairly rare species endemic to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, it is not found in continental North or Central America.
• Crescentia mirabilis is a rare species endemic to northeastern Cuba with greenish-yellow flowers with frilled edges.

Habitat & Growing Conditions of Mexican Calabash

Coatecomate, Mexican Calabash, or Jicaro are often found in open fields, savannas, and pastures, from 0 – 1200 m above sea level. It also grows in open lowland deciduous forests. Given that with the extinction of the gomphotheres that likely spread their seeds it is not surprising that they seem to be mostly found near human habitation and in fields where horses roam. Though they are native and grow in wild places they would have been spread there either by humans or large livestock as the seeds cannot germinate without the hard wooden fruit being crushed open.

It thrives in stony, sandy, shallow soils, often in or next to old dry creek beds. It can also grow in the richer soils found in agricultural fields, but in more nature environments it is often found in poor soils. It can be found in full sun or the part shade of a dry subtropical or tropical forest.

Growing Coatecomate in Your Garden

Growing species native to your area is a great addition to your garden. Once established they require little to no maintenance of any kind. They already grow in your area without water or fertilizer, so they will easily grow in your yard if you live in their range. They also provide important wildlife and biodiversity values as well.

Young trees will grow quickly and once established will no longer need water or fertilizer. It is great as a low-maintenance and drought-tolerant tree for your yard. It can even be grown in containers providing they are large enough. More and more Crescentia alata can be purchased from nurseries in southern climates of the USA. If you buy a tree plant it the fall, winter or early spring in these areas.

Alternatively, you could collect some seeds and try growing them from seed. Do not put your seedlings in the ground until they have reached 30 cm tall. Then plant them but provide them with organic compost to feed them and provide a little moisture-retention while they are getting established. Once established simply leave them be.

Wildlife Values of Coatecomate

There are no extant native wildlife that feed off the fruits of Coatecomate, though domestic horses and cows do occasionally eat them. Bats are the primary pollinators of Crescentia alata. Birds often nest in the larger trees and will use the smaller trees for roosting in.

Distribution of Coatecomate Crescentia alata

Crescentia alata is native throughout most of Mexico except for the most northern parts of Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua. It is also native through Central America south as far as Costa Rica.

Mexican Calabash is not found naturally in North America outside of Mexico. However, it is occasionally cultivated in southern California and Florida in the USA. It has been introduced on some of the islands in the Caribbean including Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Cuba where it is not believed to be native. It has also been introduced in Columbia, Peru, and Brazil in South America. Occasionally it is cultivated throughout the Old World tropics, though not as widely as its close relative Crescentia cujete.

Status of Crescentia alata

The populations of Crescentia alata appear to be stable in their native range. It was last assessed in 2018 and is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

Given that it is a useful tree for human beings, that it prefers poor and often disturbed soils, and that horses and humans help spread its seeds, it is not likely that its status will change in the near future at least.

Traditional or Other Uses of Mexican Calabash or Jicaro

Coatecomate Fruits as Utensils

The fruits were widely used throughout their native range as cups or small bowls. Natives would often carry their own personal Coatecomate cup with them. They were also used as storage vessels for various dried foods, herbs, etc. Sometimes they were decorated for artistic purposes or made into toys for a child. Sometimes they would be filled with seeds or rocks and decorated to make musical instruments.

Mexican Calabash Fruits and Seeds as Foods

The seeds are very high in protein and have a pleasant licorice-like flavor. In Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua they use the seeds along with rice, roasted pumpkin seeds, lemon peel, sugar, and water to make a plant-based milk beverage (a horchata) that they call semilla de jícaro. An edible oil can also be made from the seeds.

Sometimes the fruit was eaten or made into a drink. Mostly, however, the fruits were used for medicinal purposes. This is probably because the fruit is bitter and somewhat unpleasant in flavor (personal observation).

Crescentia alata as Medicine

The fruits were and still are widely used as an expectorant for respiratory conditions. They say to pour alcohol into the fruit and let it steep for some time. Then pour it off and drink the alcohol for colds, coughs and other respiratory conditions. The fruit was also used for kidney diseases.

A decoction of the leaves was used for ulcers, skin lesions, fevers, rheumatism, as an astringent for diarrhea, and an antihemorrhagic for hemoptysis.

Other Uses of Jicaro

Mexican calabash or Coatecomate is sometimes used in soil stabilization projects thanks to its extensive root system that is adapted to poor, thin soils. It is also used in plantations as a shade tree. The wood is sometimes used locally to make wagons and other tools.

Myths and Legends

The Mayan Book of myths (the Popol Vuh) mentions this tree as taking part in the second generation of the Maya Hero Twins. After the first twins were killed in Xibalba, the demonic Xibalbins hang their skills in a Coatecomate tree. Later on, the skull then splits in the hand of a Xibalban princess and impregnates her. She then gives birth to the second generation of Maya Hero Twins.

Ethical Wildcrafting of Crescentia alata

If you want to harvest some of the fruits, seeds, or leaves of the Coatecomate then choose an area that ideally has multiple trees. Choose an area that is free of major sources of pollutants and one that is not on protected lands. Fields and pastures are a great choice. Then simply pick the fruits from the tree. As always following the 1 in 20 rule of Ethical Wildcrafting, picking only 1 in every 20 fruits or leaves that you see.

If there are a lot of fruits on the ground that are not broken open, grab a rock and try smashing some open to spread the seeds. And, if any of them are still pale cream-colored inside, then they have not been on the ground for long and can still be used as food or medicines. If the fruit is dark brown inside, however, they have already started to rot. In that case, just leave them on the ground or scatter nearby to help spread the seeds. If you smash some open and then scatter the pieces you will significantly increase the likelihood that they will germinate and grow into new trees.

To process the fruits simply pick them and bring them home. From there you can use a saw to cut the fruits open if you want to save the pericarp for a bowl or cup. Also use a saw if you are using the filling the fruit with alcohol method of medicinal preparation. If doing the alcohol extraction method simply cut open the fruit on one end, fill it with alcohol and let it sit for up to one month. Then drain off the alcohol to be used medicinally.

If not saving the shell of Jicaro for other uses you could also use a hammer to smash them open if you are planning to harvest the seeds. When harvesting the seeds simply pick through the pulp, removing all the little heart-shaped seeds which then can be dried on a screen for later use.

To harvest and process the leaves simply pick them following the 1 in 20 rule for leaves. Then bring them home and dry them on a screen to be used in decoctions at a later date. As always, do not grind your leaves before storage. Leave the leaves whole and dried in a glass jar to preserve their medicinal qualities. Grind or crush the leaves only when you are ready to use them.

References and Resources

Conabio Crescentia alata factsheet: http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/info_especies/arboles/doctos/10-bigno1m.pdf For some reason when I use the link I used it does not open, if you Google Crescentia alata and click on the Conabio page on it you will get this fact sheet. It is in Spanish so you made need to use a translator.

Conafor Crescentia cujete: http://www.conafor.gob.mx:8080/documentos/docs/13/909Crescentia%20cujete.pdf

Crescentia Genus of Medicinal Plants: A Review. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2019; 7(3): 112-116. https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2019/vol7issue3/PartB/7-3-5-783.pdf

Dictionary of Botanical Terms – Lyrae’s Nature Blog Dictionary of Botanical Terms

iNaturalist Plant Search https://www.inaturalist.org/home

Natureserve Explorer https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search

Useful Tropical Plants Crescentia alata http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Crescentia+alata

Wikipedia on Crescentia alata https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescentia_alata

Wikipedia on Gomphotheres https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomphothere

Willis, Lyrae (2022).  Plant Families of North America.  Not yet published. 

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