How did buffalo gourds get their name?

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Question How did buffalo gourds get their name?

Answer Buffalo gourds are a native perennial which grow in the southwestern United States. They actually have many common names. The botanical name is Cucurbita foetidissima. The second part of any botanical name (the specific epithet) is often used as a descriptor. In this case, foetidissima means very fetid. The word fetid means, “stinks like a rotten skunk.” Therefore, the botanical name can be translated to “a gourd that stinks like a rotten skunk.” This gourd does have other common names which reference smell. These names include stinking gourd, fetid gourd, wild fetid pumpkin and possibly Missouri gourd.

Buffaloes do not stink, at least no worse than any other animal their size. More than likely, the association with buffaloes is more of a reference to where they grow. Buffaloes use to roam over the southwestern United States. Other common names would seem to support this theory. They include prairie gourd, wild gourd and coyote melon.

Indians throughout the southwest have used this gourd for hundreds of years. Their uses include medicinal, firewood and ritual rattles. The root and vine of this plant contain saponins which made it suitable as a soap, stain remover and shampoo. For some reason, the rotten skunk smell never caught on with western settlers as a shampoo.

Roasting the seeds did catch on. The seeds contain a protein-rich oil. Scientists are presently experimenting with hybrid buffalo gourds as a food crop to be grown in Middle Eastern deserts. They’ll probably call them jihad or camel gourds.

Obviously, these plants thrive in hot, dry areas. While the roots can survive extremely cold temperatures, buffalo gourds are considered a zone 10 plant. Like many of our vegetables, it could be grown as an annual.

Believe it or not, somebody is now searching for some smelly buffalo gourd seeds to plant next year. Be warned that this plant may cross pollinate with other cucurbits. Therefore, your yellow squash, cucumbers or watermelons may smell like a rotten skunk as well.

For more info on curing gourds, visit http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-29.html

If you don’t have internet access, then call my office at 893-7533 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org.

Buffalo gourds may have gotten their name from their appearance after they cure. This theory is simply a guess, but you can visit this link to see if it has any merit.

http://www.paintingsbyhellen.com/images/BuffaloesInTheSpringA.jpg

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County