Description

• Crescentia alata, commonly known as Mexican calabash or jícaro, is a small, often deciduous tree in the trumpet-tree family (Bignoniaceae). It has a distinctive branching structure and unusual leaves consisting of three leaflets, with the central leaflet often elongated and wing-like. Its greenish-yellow flowers grow directly from the trunk and branches and are pollinated mainly by bats. The tree produces hard-shelled, rounded fruits that contain seeds embedded in pulp. The durable shells are traditionally used to make bowls, containers, and other utensils.

Range

• Crescentia alata is native to Mexico and Central America, extending into parts of northern South America. It is characteristic of seasonally dry tropical regions of the Pacific lowlands. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• It grows in tropical dry forests, open woodland, savanna-like vegetation, and thorn scrub. It thrives in warm, sunny environments and tolerates prolonged seasonal drought, often growing in rocky or well-drained soils.