The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera. Those most important to humans are the following:Cucurbita – squash, pumpkin, zucchini or courgette, some gourds
Lagenaria – calabash, and others that are inedible
Citrullus – watermelon and others
Cucumis – cucumber, various melons and vines
Momordica – bitter melon
Luffa – the common name is also luffa, sometimes spelled loofah
Cyclanthera – Caigua
Cucurbitaceae
Flower of Lagenaria captured at night
Pumpkins and squashes displayed in a show competition
A selection of cucurbits of the South Korean Genebank in Suwon
Cucurbita is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, 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. These other gourds are used as utensils or vessels, and their young fruits are eaten much like those of the Cucurbita species.
Image: Squashes at Kew Gardens Incr Edibles 2013
Image: Cultivated Cucurbita of Canada
C. pepo pumpkins – the two bright orange ones in center right, and squashes C. maxima, all others
The leaves of Cucurbita moschata often have white spots near the veins.