the calabash-tree: A genus of the angiospermia order, belonging to the didynamia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 25th order, Putaminaceae. The calyx is bipartite and equal; the corolla gibbous; the berry pedicellated or stalked, unilocular, and polyspermous; the seeds bilocular. There are two species.

1. The cujete, with oblong narrow leaves and a large oval fruit, is a native of Jamaica and the Leeward Islands. It hath a thick trunk covered with a whitish bark, which rises from 20 to 30 feet high, and at the top divides into many branches, forming a large and regular head, garnished with leaves, which come out irregularly, sometimes single; at other times many arise out of the same knot: the flowers are produced from the sides of the large branches, sometimes from the trunk, standing upon long footstalks. They have but one petal, which is irregular; and they are of a greenish yellow colour, striped and spotted with brown. These are succeeded by very large fruit, generally spherical, sometimes oval; and at other times they have a contracted neck like a bottle; and are so large, that when the pulp and seeds are cleaned out, the shells will contain three pints or two quarts of liquid. The fruit is covered externally with a thin skin of a greenish-yellow colour when ripe. When this is peeled off, there appears a hard ligneous shell, inclosing a pale yellowish soft pulp of a tart unfavourable flavour, surrounding a great number of flat heart-shaped seeds.

2. The latifolia, or broad-leaved calabash, seldom rises more than 15 or 20 feet high, with an upright trunk, covered with a white smooth bark, sending out many lateral branches at the top, garnished with leaves three inches in length, and one and a quarter broad, ranged alternately. The flowers come out as in the former species; but are smaller, and of a deeper yellow colour. The fruit of this sort is sometimes round, sometimes oval, but of very unequal sizes. Both these species are easily propagated by seeds; but the plants are too tender to live in this country, unless they are constantly kept in a stove.

The shells of calabashes are made use of for various purposes. At Barbadoes, besides drinking-cups and punch-bowls, there are made of them spoons, dishes, and other utensils for the slaves. Some of these shells are so large, as to be capable of holding 15 pints of water. The pulp is seldom eaten, except by cattle in the time of drought. The wood, which is hard and smooth, is made into stools, chairs, and other furniture.