Cucurbitaceae

Abstract

The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits and the gourd family, in the order Cucurbitales, is a flowering plant family consisting of around 98 genera with approximately 975 species, mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Plants are annual or perennial herb or shrubs. Roots are fibrous or tuberous. Stems are usually angular. Leaves are alternate, tendrils solitary, and exstipulate. Plants are monoecious or dioecious. Flowers are unisexual, paniculate, racemose, or subumbellate. Calyx is usually 5-lobed and imbricate. Corolla is valvate and involute. Stamens are usually five. Ovary is usually inferior. Fruit is often a pepo. Seeds are often numerous, exalbuminous. Four species, belonging to different genera, are illustrated in the chapter.