Cucurbita L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 298

6. Cucurbita L. 1

Monoecious. Stems procumbent or climbing; tendrils branched (except in some cultivars). Flowers solitary, yellow. Calyx 5-fid; corolla campanulate, lobed to about the middle. Stamens 3; filaments free; anthers coherent. Female flowers with small staminodes. Ovary with 3-5 placentae; ovules numerous.

In addition to the species described below C. ficifolia Bouché , Verh. Ver. Beförd. Gartenb. Preuss. 12: 205 (1837) ( C. melanosperma Gasparr. ), a perennial species with fruits 20-30cm long and with black seeds, and C. mixta Pangalo , Bull. Appi. Bot. Pl.-Breed. (Leningrad) 23: 264 (1930), which is like 2 but has the fruiting peduncle hard, inflated and corky, are cultivated for culinary purposes in parts of S.E. Europe.

1 Fruiting peduncle terete, soft, corky, not expanded at attachment to fruit; flowers slightly scented 3. maxima

1 Fruiting peduncle angled, hard, not corky, ± expanded at attachment to fruit; flowers not scented

2 Plant rather softly hairy; calyx-lobes ligulate but often expanded above; leaves shallowly lobed 2. mosehata

2 Plant harshly hispid-setose; calyx-lobes linear-lanceolate, not expanded above; leaves often deeply lobed 1. pepo