Crescentia

/kreɪˈsenʃə/ noun

Definition

A tropical climbing plant with sausage-shaped pods, sometimes called the calabash tree.

Etymology

From Latin 'crescens' meaning 'growing' or 'increasing', named for the plant's vigorous growth habit. The genus was formally named in botanical Latin by 18th-century naturalists.

Kelly Says

The calabash tree's enormous woody pods were hollowed out by indigenous peoples and used as everything from water containers to musical instruments—the same plant gave us both plumbing and percussion!

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