ししがたにかぼちゃ (鹿ヶ谷南瓜)

Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata

「にほんかぼちゃ」の一品種で、京都の鹿ヶ谷で江戸時代の末期から栽培されていました。形状は瓢箪形で、果面にこぶがあり縦溝は不鮮明です。はじめは緑色ですが、熟すと白粉を帯びた淡い橙褐色になります。ふつうの「かぼちゃ」に比べると粘質で水分が多いため、煮物や天ぷらに利用されます。 
ウリ科カボチャ属の蔓性一年草で、学名は Cucurbita moschata。英名はありません。 
The "Shishigatani-kabocha" (Cucurbita moschata) belongs to Cucurbitaceae (the Gourd family). It is an annual herb that is a variety of "Japanese squash" (Tropical squash) that has been cultivated in Shishigadani, Kyoto in Japan since the end of the Edo period (1603-1868). The shape is gourd, with humps on the fruit surface and unclear flutes. It is green at first, but when it ripens, it becomes pale orange-brown with white powder. Compared to ordinary "squash", it is sticky and has a lot of water, so it is used for simmered dishes and tempura. 
京都市左京区「京都府立植物園」にて、2005年08月16日撮影。 

Shu Suehiro
shu@botanic.jp