CUCURBITACEAE - Cucurbit or Gourd Family
Herbaceous, coarse climbing vines
Leaves alternate, entire, or lobed
Infls. of various types, plants monoecious or dioecious
Flowers unisexual (male and female), actinomorphic, nectary disk present
Fruit a berry or pepo (one-locular fruit developed from inferior ovary
with parietal placentae)
Seeds flattened
90 genera, 700 species, mainly tropical and subtropical
Economic importance:
Citrullus - watermelon
Cucurbita - pumpkin, squash, gourd
Cucumis - cucumber, canteloupe, muskmelon
Diagnostic characteristics: vine, fruit a pepo
