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Cucurbitaceae (from the genus Cucurbita, the classical name for the gourd). Gourd Family. Fig. 56. Herbs, rarely shrubs, climbing, usually with branched tendrils: leaves alternate, more or less rounded; veins palmate: flowers usually unisexual, perigynous, regular; stamens 5, rarely separate, usually connate in 2 pairs and 1 free stamen (thus apparently, stamens 3), or monadelphous, inserted at the summit of the ovary; anthers 2-celled, the cells often queerly curved and contorted; carpels usually 3, rarely more or fewer; ovary inferior, mostly 3-celled, many-ovuled: fruit a dry berry with thick rind and spongy center (Pepo), or juicy with hard rind, very exceptionally dehiscent.

Cucurbitaceae (from the genus Cucurbita, the classical name for the gourd). Gourd Family. Herbs, rarely shrubs, climbing, usually with branched tendrils: leaves alternate, more or less rounded; veins palmate: flowers usually unisexual, perigynous, regular; stamens 5, rarely separate, usually connate in 2 pairs and 1 free stamen (thus apparently, stamens 3), or monadelphous, inserted at the summit of the ovary; anthers 2-celled, the cells often queerly curved and contorted; carpels usually 3, rarely more or fewer; ovary inferior, mostly 3-celled, many-ovuled: fruit a dry berry with thick rind and spongy center (Pepo), or juicy with hard rind, very exceptionally dehiscent.

There are 87 genera and about 650 species, widely distributed over the earth but most abundant in the tropics; they are wanting in the cold regions. Several are wild in the eastern United States. The family is related to the Campanulaceae, possibly also to the Passifloraceae. The tendrils are usually borne singly at the nodes and are thought to be modified axillary branches. The fruits are exceedingly diverse and odd. Some are the largest fruits of the vegetable kingdom, others are very tiny. The gourds are very diverse in shape and color,—club-shaped, globular, or flattened from above, or curiously curved.

There are 87 genera and about 650 species, widely distributed over the earth but most abundant in the tropics; they are wanting in the cold regions. Several are wild in the eastern United States. The family is related to the Campanulaceae, possibly also to the Passifloraceae. The tendrils are usually borne singly at the nodes and are thought to be modified axillary branches. The fruits are exceedingly diverse and odd. Some are the largest fruits of the vegetable kingdom, others are very tiny. The gourds are very diverse in shape and color,—club-shaped, globular, or flattened from above, or curiously curved.

The most remarkable fruit is the squirting cucumber (Ecballium Elaterium) of the Mediterranean region. The prickly fruit, about 2 inches long, becomes very turgid and finally explodes with a considerable report. The basal end is blown out like a cork from a bottle, and the pulpy interior, containing the seeds, is projected to a considerable distance.

The most remarkable fruit is the squirting cucumber (Ecballium Elaterium) of the Mediterranean region. The prickly fruit, about 2 inches long, becomes very turgid and finally explodes with a considerable report. The basal end is blown out like a cork from a bottle, and the pulpy interior, containing the seeds, is projected to a considerable distance.

Twenty to 30 genera are in cultivation in N. America. Among these are the various melons, squashes, gourds, and the like, mentioned above; also Bryony, Wax Gourd, Balsam Pear or Balsam Apple (Momordica), Dish-cloth Gourd, Squirting Cucumber, Curuba (Sicana), and Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes).

Twenty to 30 genera are in cultivation in N. America. Among these are the various melons, squashes, gourds, and the like, mentioned above; also Bryony, Wax Gourd, Balsam Pear or Balsam Apple (Momordica), Dish-cloth Gourd, Squirting Cucumber, Curuba (Sicana), and Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes).{{SCH}}

 

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==Genera==

 

There are about 118 extant genera in Cucurbitaceae, including 825 species. The following is the classification as given by Charles Jeffrey as of [[1990]]{{wp}}.

 

 

==Classification==

There are about 118 extant genera in Cucurbitaceae, including 825 species. The following is the classification as given by Charles Jeffrey as of [[1990]].

'''Subfamily Zanonioideae''' (small striate pollen grains)

'''Subfamily Zanonioideae''' (small striate pollen grains)

''[[Abobra]] [[Acanthosicyos]] [[Actinostemma]] [[Alsomitra]] [[Ampelosycios]] [[Anacaona]] [[Apatzingania]] [[Apodanthera]] [[Bambekea]] [[Benincasa]] [[Biswarea]] [[Bolbostemma]] [[Brandegea]] [[Bryonia]] [[Calycophysum]] [[Cayaponia]] [[Cephalopentandra]] [[Ceratosanthes]] [[Chalema]] [[Cionosicyos]] [[Citrullus]] [[Coccinia]] [[Cogniauxia]] [[Corallocarpus]] [[Cremastopus]] [[Ctenolepis]] [[Cucumella]] [[Cucumeropsis]] [[Cucumis]] [[Cucurbita]] [[Cucurbitella]] [[Cyclanthera]] [[Dactyliandra]] [[Dendrosicyos]] [[Dicaelospermum]] [[Dieterlea]] [[Diplocyclos]] [[Doyerea]] [[Ecballium]] [[Echinocystis]] [[Echinopepon]] [[Edgaria]] [[Elateriopsis]] [[Eureiandra]] [[Fevillea]] [[Gerrardanthus]] [[Gomphogyne]] [[Gurania]] [[Guraniopsis]] [[Gymnopetalum]] [[Gynostemma]] [[Halosicyos]] [[Hanburia]] [[Helmontia]] [[Hemsleya]] [[Herpetospermum]] [[Hodgsonia]] [[Ibervillea]] [[Indofevillea]] [[Kedrostis]] [[Lagenaria]] [[Lemurosicyos]] [[Luffa]] [[Marah (plant)|Marah]] [[Melancium]] [[Melothria]] [[Melothrianthus]] [[Microsechium]] [[Momordica]] [[Muellerargia]] [[Mukia]] [[Myrmecosicyos]] [[Neoalsomitra]] [[Nothoalsomitra]] [[Odosicyos]] [[Oreosyce]] [[Parasicyos]] [[Penelopeia (plant)|Penelopeia]] [[Peponium]] [[Peponopsis]] [[Polyclathra]] [[Posadaea]] [[Praecitrullus]] [[Pseudocyclanthera]] [[Pseudosicydium]] [[Psiguria]] [[Pteropepon]] [[Pterosicyos]] [[Raphidiocystis]] [[Ruthalicia]] [[Rytidostylis]] [[Schizocarpum]] [[Schizopepon]] [[Sechiopsis]] [[Sechium]] [[Selysia]] [[Seyrigia]] [[Sicana]] [[Sicydium]] [[Sicyos]] [[Sicyosperma]] [[Siolmatra]] [[Siraitia]] [[Solena]] [[Tecunumania]] [[Telfairia]] [[Thladiantha]] [[Trichosanthes]] [[Tricyclandra]] [[Trochomeria]] [[Trochomeriopsis]] [[Tumacoca]] [[Vaseyanthus]] [[Wilbrandia]] [[Xerosicyos]] [[Zanonia]] [[Zehneria]] [[Zombitsia]] [[Zygosicyos]]''

''[[Abobra]] [[Acanthosicyos]] [[Actinostemma]] [[Alsomitra]] [[Ampelosycios]] [[Anacaona]] [[Apatzingania]] [[Apodanthera]] [[Bambekea]] [[Benincasa]] [[Biswarea]] [[Bolbostemma]] [[Brandegea]] [[Bryonia]] [[Calycophysum]] [[Cayaponia]] [[Cephalopentandra]] [[Ceratosanthes]] [[Chalema]] [[Cionosicyos]] [[Citrullus]] [[Coccinia]] [[Cogniauxia]] [[Corallocarpus]] [[Cremastopus]] [[Ctenolepis]] [[Cucumella]] [[Cucumeropsis]] [[Cucumis]] [[Cucurbita]] [[Cucurbitella]] [[Cyclanthera]] [[Dactyliandra]] [[Dendrosicyos]] [[Dicaelospermum]] [[Dieterlea]] [[Diplocyclos]] [[Doyerea]] [[Ecballium]] [[Echinocystis]] [[Echinopepon]] [[Edgaria]] [[Elateriopsis]] [[Eureiandra]] [[Fevillea]] [[Gerrardanthus]] [[Gomphogyne]] [[Gurania]] [[Guraniopsis]] [[Gymnopetalum]] [[Gynostemma]] [[Halosicyos]] [[Hanburia]] [[Helmontia]] [[Hemsleya]] [[Herpetospermum]] [[Hodgsonia]] [[Ibervillea]] [[Indofevillea]] [[Kedrostis]] [[Lagenaria]] [[Lemurosicyos]] [[Luffa]] [[Marah (plant)|Marah]] [[Melancium]] [[Melothria]] [[Melothrianthus]] [[Microsechium]] [[Momordica]] [[Muellerargia]] [[Mukia]] [[Myrmecosicyos]] [[Neoalsomitra]] [[Nothoalsomitra]] [[Odosicyos]] [[Oreosyce]] [[Parasicyos]] [[Penelopeia (plant)|Penelopeia]] [[Peponium]] [[Peponopsis]] [[Polyclathra]] [[Posadaea]] [[Praecitrullus]] [[Pseudocyclanthera]] [[Pseudosicydium]] [[Psiguria]] [[Pteropepon]] [[Pterosicyos]] [[Raphidiocystis]] [[Ruthalicia]] [[Rytidostylis]] [[Schizocarpum]] [[Schizopepon]] [[Sechiopsis]] [[Sechium]] [[Selysia]] [[Seyrigia]] [[Sicana]] [[Sicydium]] [[Sicyos]] [[Sicyosperma]] [[Siolmatra]] [[Siraitia]] [[Solena]] [[Tecunumania]] [[Telfairia]] [[Thladiantha]] [[Trichosanthes]] [[Tricyclandra]] [[Trochomeria]] [[Trochomeriopsis]] [[Tumacoca]] [[Vaseyanthus]] [[Wilbrandia]] [[Xerosicyos]] [[Zanonia]] [[Zehneria]] [[Zombitsia]] [[Zygosicyos]]''

Ref: [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/cucurbit.htm Watson and Dallwitz] [[3 September]] [[2002]]

Ref: [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/cucurbit.htm Watson and Dallwitz] [[3 September]] [[2002]]

==References==

==References==

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

*{{cite book|author=David Bates, Richard Robinson, Charles Jeffrey, eds.|year=1990|title=Biology and Utilization of the Cucurbitaceae|publisher=Cornell UP|id=ISBN 0-8014-1670-1}}

* Jeffrey, C. 2005. A new system of Cucurbitaceae. ''Bot. Zhurn'' 90: 332–335. [latest classification of Cucurbitaceae]

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.cucurbit.org/family.html Cucurbitaceae] in [http://www.cucurbit.org/family.html T.C. Andres (1995 onwards)].

*{{wplink}}

[[Category:Cucurbitaceae| ]]

[[Category:Categorize]]

[[Category:Plant families]]

[[Category:Plant families]]

[[Category:Cucurbitales]]

[[Category:Cucurbitales]]