The Squash FamilyCucurbitaceae

Familiar crops include:

-Squash

-Watermelon

-Cucumber

-Pumpkin

-Gourds

-Cantaloupe

-Honeydew melon

There are two classifications of squash. These are “summer” squash and “winter” squash. These titles are actually deceptive because “summer” squash is on the market all winter while “winter” squash is on the market during late summer and fall, as well as throughout the winter. The crops earned these names during the time period when man depended on farming, thus the seasons were very important. The winter crops earned this name because they would keep through December.

Where can I find members of the Squash family?

The squash family is predominately found in subtropical, temperate and even some cooler climates When should I grow plants from the squash family?

KEYWORDS: vining plants with tendrils, funnel-shaped flowers, usually yellow or white, forming large, three- or four-celled fruits

The common butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) on the vine

Works cited

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/Images/WeedHosts/WildCucumber2.jpgd:

http://www.cucurbit.org/family.html

Home Vegetable Gardening Handout

http://www.theheartofnewengland.com/images/Wildflowers-wild_cucumber.JPG

Botany in A Day, Thomas J. Elpel

100 genera

850 species

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Wild cucumber

(Echinocystis lobata)

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Note: only 14 of the genera are in North America

Domain- Eukarya

Kingdom- Plantae

Division- Flowering Plants

Class- Dicotyledon

Order- Violet