also
known as Calabazilla and Missouri Fetid Gourd, among other names.
A very interesting perennial of the arid Southwest and on up towards
Missouri. The huge tuberous roots give rise to vines radiating
outward in an almost geometric pattern, with scratchy, hairy,
elongated leaves with a silvery sheen. Fruits are small balls,
striped dark and light green when young (similar to some ornamental
pepo gourds), yellow at maturity, and drying to thin-skinned round
tan rattles. Seeds are high in oil and protein and the root is
edible, but the whole plant is said to be stinky. Used medicinally
by many Native American peoples. The Omaha Indians, I believe,
used to hire white settlers to dig up the roots for them, believing
that anyone who damaged them while digging (or dug them up, period?)
would die soon thereafter. This seed comes from plants growing
along I-10 near Fort Deming, New Mexico. It is still unclear at
this point how these plants will do in this climate. $4.00/5 seeds
