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The Cucurbitaceae of India: Accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences by Susanne S. Renner, Arun K. Pandey. (2013)-
Accepted names:
Cucurbita argyrosperma C.Huber Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne
Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne ex Lam.) Duchesne
Cucurbita pepo L.
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Cucurbitaceae Week: Identifying main species of Cucurbita: There are hundreds of cultivars of Cucurbita and species are often difficult to identify. More difficult is the fact that any species can go under the name pumpkin, squash or gourd. Flowers and leaves are not often great help. I am uploading few to show the differences. The species can be identified by the structure of the tip of pedicel where it is attached to the base on fruit. .
Cucurbita is a genus with numerous cultivars whose names can be most confusing the commonly used names pumpkin, squash, gourd, summer squash, winter squash could belong to any of the commonly grown species.
Cucurbita filicifolia: Leaves orbicular-ovate to reniform, with shallow obtuses sinuses, corolla lobes large spreading, fruit green with white stripes, flesh white, seeds dark.
Cucurbita maxima: Leaves shallowly lobed, sinus narrow obtuse;petiole not prickly; calyx linear-lanceolate; fruiting peduncle not grooved, not expanded at tip below fruit; corolla soft spreading or drooping.
Cucurbita mixta: Leaves shallowly lobed, cordate at base, surface with white patches; petiole not prickly; peduncle in fruit angled, corky, enlarged at tip; male flower with long staminal column
Cucurbita moschata: Leaves scarcely lobed, ovate-orbicular with white patches; petiole not prickly; calyx lobes large leafy; peduncle angled expanded at tip; corolla lobes spreading, crinky, acute.
Cucurbita pepo: Leaves ovate-triangular, deeply lobed, sinus broad, petiole prickly; prduncle 5-6 angled, grooved, expanded at tip; corolla erect sharp pointed.
Plus I have found growing wild here the following species with very distinct leaves:
Cucurbita foetidissima: Leaves ovate-triangular, stiff, greyish, greyish; flowers large; fruit 6-8 cm, spherical, striped green and yellow, foetid, not edible.
Could any member find and upload key to these species of Cucurbita
I am uploading fruit of C. filicifolia sold in stores here, known as Chilacayote or Malabar gourd, Fig-leaf gourd. From name Malabar gourd I wonder whether plant is grown in India or not. |
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