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 cultivated vegetable.
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.[1]
The accepted species according to the Catalogue of Life are:[2]
Frantzia is placed in the Sicyoeae tribe.[1]
Frantzia is sister to the Echinopepon genus within the Sicyoeae tribe. Phylogenetic studies suggest these relationships:[1][3]
Echinopepon spp. (19 species)
Marah spp.Frantzia venosa (Costa Rica)
Frantzia talamancensis (Costa Rica)
Frantzia panamensis (Panama)
Frantzia pittieri (Costa Rica)
Frantzia villosa (Costa Rica)
Frantzia tacaco (Costa Rica)
Marah spp. (8 species)
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 cultivated vegetable.
