Squash Family

Cucurbitaceae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:YellowSquash.jpg

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http://en.wikivisual.com/

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http://bees.tennessee.edu/images/pepSideLarge.jpg

Fun Facts-Although within the culinary arts, squash is considered a

vegetable, botanically speaking it is a fruit!

-Summer squashes can be eaten immediately and

require no cooking if undesired

-Within the family, there are 735 species!

-squash is known as a pepo by botanists, which is a

special type of berry with a thick outer wall.

-The term "summer" and "winter" are based not on actuality. "Summer" types

are on the market all winter; and "winter" types are on

the markets in the late summer and fall, as well as

winter.

Pollination-Traditionally the squash family

has been pollinated by the NorthAmerican Squash Bee.

Living Conditions-most members of the family thrive

within tropical and subtropicalconditions

Characteristics-Weak sappy stems-Palmate leaves

-Flowers are unisexual-5 petals

-Fruits are berries, often large

http://www.ars.usda.gov/images/docs/6464_6648/cucurbita1.jpg

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telegraph/multimedia/archive/01117/

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