Cucurbita digitata
Finger-leaved gourd
(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cucurbitaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Cucurbita digitata (Finger-leaved gourd) is a native California vine in the Cucurbitaceae family, recognized by leaf division pattern.
Finger-leaved gourd is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal regions, peninsular ranges, and desert regions in sandy, open, or shrubby places at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces large yellow flowers 3 to 5 centimeters across with distinctive palmately lobed leaves. Growing with scabrous herbage and branched tendrils, it develops sprawling vines with green leaves divided into 5 lance-linear lobes. Its leaves are 3 to 9 centimeters wide, with main veins lighter than the green leaf surface, creating a textured appearance. The fruit is a spheric to oblong dark green gourd 7 to 8 centimeters wide, decorated with several narrow white stripes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; leaf division pattern is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Sandy, open or shrubby places
Elevation: < 1200 m
Outside California: to New Mexico, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Cucurbita digitata blooms Aug-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Cucumis: Cucurbita has flowers with fused tube over 3cm long; Cucumis flowers are shallower with shorter tubes.; vs Datura: Cucurbita has yellow-orange trumpet flowers and vines; Datura has white-purple trumpets and upright growth.; vs Citrullus: Cucurbita emerges from large tuber-like roots; Citrullus is annual from seed without tuber.; vs Marah: Cucurbita has large yellow trumpet flowers; Marah has small white star-shaped flowers.; vs Agnorhiza: Cucurbita has trumpet-shaped flowers; Agnorhiza has daisy-like composite flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cucurbita digitata native to California?
Yes. Cucurbita digitata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cucurbita digitata bloom?
Cucurbita digitata blooms Aug-Oct.
What plant family does Cucurbita digitata belong to?
Cucurbita digitata is in the Cucurbitaceae family, genus Cucurbita.
What habitat does Cucurbita digitata grow in?
Cucurbita digitata grows in Uncommon. Sandy, open or shrubby places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.