''Frantzia'' is a genus of the

gourd Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly '' Cucurbita'' and '' Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the e ...

family,

Cucurbitaceae The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are: *'' Cucurbita'' – squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds *'' La ...

containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco (''

Frantzia tacaco ''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco ('' Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely ...

'') is a widely cultivated vegetable.

Description

''Frantzia'' species can reach several meters long. Flowers are small and monoecious with male flowers produced in racemes and female flowers either solitary or in groups of 2-5. Leaves are simple, long-petiolate, with palmately lobed or angulate blade.

Taxonomy

The accepted species according to the

Catalogue of Life The Catalogue of Life is an online database that provides an index of known species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. It was created in 2001 as a partnership between the global Species 2000 and the American Integrated Taxonomic I ...

are: * ''

Frantzia panamensis ''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco (''Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely ...

'' Wunderlin * ''

Frantzia pittieri ''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco (''Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely ...

'' (Cogn.) Pittier * ''

'' (Pittier) Wunderlin * ''

Frantzia talamancensis ''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco (''Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely ...

'' Wunderlin * ''

Frantzia venosa ''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco (''Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely ...

'' L. D. Gómez * ''

Frantzia villosa ''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco (''Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely ...

'' Wunderlin ''Frantzia'' is placed in the '' Sicyoeae'' tribe.

Phylogenetics

''Frantzia'' is sister to the ''

Echinopepon ''Echinopepon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Tendrillate vines, their prickly fruits are operculate, with the prickles themselves ...

'' genus within the Sicyoeae tribe. Phylogenetic studies suggest these relationships:

References

Cucurbitoideae Cucurbitaceae genera {{Cucurbitales-stub