Cucurbitaceae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cucurbitaceae |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Hodgsonia male plant | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Cucurbitaceae
|
The Cucurbitaceae family is a group of plants often called gourds or cucurbits. You probably know many of them! This family includes popular foods like cucumbers, squashes (which means pumpkins too!), luffas, melons, and watermelons.
These plants mostly grow in warm, tropical places around the world. People started growing edible gourds very early in history, both in ancient Asia and Africa, and in the Americas.
What are Cucurbit Plants Like?
Most plants in the gourd family are annual vines. This means they grow for one season and then die. They like to climb and spread out.
Some cucurbits are woody vines called lianas. Others can be thorny shrubs or even small trees! Many species have big, bright flowers that are usually yellow or white. Their stems often feel a bit hairy.
What Kind of Fruit Do They Make?
The fruit of a cucurbit plant is often a special type of berry. Think about a watermelon or a pumpkin. They are big and fleshy, with seeds inside. That's a berry in botanical terms!
There are about 825 different kinds of plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, from tiny cucumbers to giant pumpkins.
Images for kids
-
Flower of Lagenaria captured at night
-
A selection of cucurbits from the South Korean Genebank in Suwon
-
Cucurbits on display at the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid, titled "Variedades de calabaza"
.jpg)
_Madrid_Botanico.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Cucurbitáceas para niños
