Cucurbita pepo; ornamental gourd; field pumpkin
Refers to the species Cucurbita pepo, which includes many varieties of pumpkin, squash, and zucchini. In everyday Japanese, it often points to small, decorative pumpkins or gourds used as toys or ornaments, hence the name 'toy pumpkin'.
See also: ペポかぼちゃ
In autumn, many households decorate with ornamental gourds.
This Cucurbita pepo is not for eating; it's for decoration.
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in botanical contexts.
Kanji spelling using 玩具 (toy) and 南瓜 (pumpkin). Rarely used; the kana form is strongly preferred.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling. Uncommon.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling. Uncommon.
Mixed katakana-kanji spelling. Uncommon.
Mixed hiragana-kanji spelling. Uncommon.
From おもちゃ (toy) + かぼちゃ (pumpkin), literally 'toy pumpkin'. The name reflects its common use as a decorative or play object rather than for food.