Malabar gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia), also called fig-leaf gourd, black seed squash and cidra, is a squash. It is cultivated in many countries but used quite variously aroundf the world.
In Mexico, its flowers, leaves and shoots are eaten as greens, and the seeds are made into palanquetas. The fruit is eaten cooked as a vegetable, or used when ripe for confections and beverages.
In Spain, it is used to make cabello de ángel jam, which is used in baked goods and confections. In Portugal, is is called chila or gila and used in traditional sweets, such as pão de rala.
In Chile, it is called alcayota and used to make jam. In Costa Rica, it is called chiverre and used to stuff sweet empanadas.
In Asia, the pulp is used to make a soup, which bears a visual resemblance to shark fin soup, so it is called shark's fin melon