Cucurbita
Sign in to saveis a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as cucurbits or cucurbi), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and seeds. They are variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd, depending on species, variety, and local parlance. Other kinds of gourd, also called bottle-gourds, are native to Africa and belong to the genus Lagenaria, which is in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but in a different tribe; their young fruits are eaten much like those of the Cucurbita species.
AI overview
Cucurbita is a genus of plants in the gourd family that originated in the Andes and Mesoamerica, producing the fruits commonly known as squash, pumpkins, and gourds. Five edible species are widely grown and eaten for their flesh and seeds, making them important food crops around the world.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Cucurbiteae
- Image
- Yellow squash DSC01080.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- P105
- genus
- P427
- Cucurbita pepo
- P8168
- Karin Bertling
- P1672
- squash blossom
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Description
- Reproductive biology
- Germination and seedling growth
- Taxonomy
- Phylogeny
- Distribution and habitat
- Ecology
- Cultivation
- History
- Production
- Toxicity
- Uses
- Nutrition
- Culinary
- In culture
- Art, music, and literature
- Cleansing and personal care uses
- Folk remedies
- Festivals
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as cucurbits or cucurbi), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and seeds. They are variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd, depending on species, variety, and local parlance. Other kinds of gourd, also called bottle-gourds, are native to Africa and belong to the genus Lagenaria, which is in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but in a different tribe; their young fruits are eaten much like those of the Cucurbita species.
There is debate about the taxonomy of the genus and the number of accepted species varies from 13 to 30. The five domesticated species are Cucurbita argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo, all of which can be treated as winter squash because the full-grown fruits can be stored for months. However, C. pepo includes some cultivars that are better used only as summer squash.