In agroforestry and revegetation, the tree is grown to provide shade in plantations, where it also enriches the soil with its leaf-fall and in revegetation its extensive root system stabilizes the soil (3, 4). Calabash trees produce woody gourd-like fruits used as cups (3). These fruits are commonly gathered and sold in Guatemalan markets where the trees grow naturally (3). Though smaller than the gourds produced by C. cujete, they are considered suitable as a bowl, cup, or other toy (such as spinning tops) or handicraft (3). The dried fruit is cut in half to make two small cups, which are commonly carried, around a person’s waist, as a drinking cup (3). These fruits are also eaten or made into a refreshing drink called 'horchata' (3) The drink is made by mixing the ground seeds, with other ingredients such as raw rice, roasted pumpkin seeds, lemon peel, sugar, water and ice (1, 3, 4). Seeds produce a bland, relatively stable oil which is edible and also used in cosmetics and in therapeutic applications (3). The pulp is eaten by cattle and horses and the hard, light brown wood is grown for timber and used in construction (1, 3). Licorice flavored pulp in the center of the fruits is not only used to produce a drink but it is also used medicinally to treat colds and diseases of the kidneys (1,3). The leaves are used to make a decoction used as an astringent and antihemorrhagic as well as for the treatment of dysentery and haemoptoysis (3). The same decoction is reported to be used to promote hair growth (3). While the plant has been used in Mexican and Guatemalan traditional medicine for respiratory infections and as an anti-inflammatory, respectively, the anti-inflammatory characteristics have been confirmed in animal models in modern science (6). The anti-microbial characteristics have also been observed against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans (6).
