Cucurbitaceae Genera on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant
Most of the plants in this family are annual
The most recent classification of Cucurbitaceae delineates 15
Cucurbitaceae
i
i
L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval.
https://web.archive.org/web/20070103200438/http://delta-intkey.com/ {{Angiosperm families {{Taxonbar, from=Q8314 {{Authority control Rosid families Extant Danian first appearances Taxa named by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu Taxa described in 1789
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...
, of which the most important to humans are:
*''Cucurbita
''Cucurbita'' (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as ''cucurbits'' or ''cucurbi''), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and ...
'' – squash, pumpkin
A pumpkin is a vernacular term for mature winter squash of species and varieties in the genus '' Cucurbita'' that has culinary and cultural significance but no agreed upon botanical or scientific meaning. The term ''pumpkin'' is sometimes u ...
, zucchini
The zucchini (; plural: zucchini or zucchinis), courgette (; plural: courgettes) or baby marrow ('' Cucurbita pepo'') is a summer squash, a vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and epicarp (rind) are s ...
, some gourd
Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly '' Cucurbita'' and '' Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the e ...
s
*'' Lagenaria'' – calabash
Calabash (; ''Lagenaria siceraria''), also known as bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, long melon, birdhouse gourd, New Guinea bean, Tasmania bean, and opo squash, is a vine grown for its fruit. It can be either harvested young to be consumed ...
, and others that are inedible
*'' Citrullus'' – watermelon
Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 var ...
(''C. lanatus'', ''C. colocynthis'') and others
*'' Cucumis'' – cucumber
Cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that bears usually cylindrical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.melon
A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a " pepo". The ...
s and vines
*'' Momordica'' – bitter melon
*''Luffa
''Luffa'' is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae).
In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah, usually refers to the fruits of the species '' Luffa aegyptiaca'' and '' Luffa acuta ...
'' – the common name is also luffa, sometimes spelled loofah (when fully ripened, two species of this fibrous fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in partic ...
are the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge)
*'' Cyclanthera'' – Caigua
''Cyclanthera pedata'', known as ''caigua'', is a herbaceous vine grown for its edible fruit, which is predominantly used as a vegetable. It is known from cultivation only, and its use goes back many centuries as evidenced by ancient phytomorph ...
The plants in this family are grown around the tropics and in temperate areas, where those with edible fruits were among the earliest cultivated plants in both the Old and New Worlds. The family Cucurbitaceae ranks among the highest of plant families for number and percentage of species used as human food. The name ''Cucurbitaceae'' comes to international scientific vocabulary
International scientific vocabulary (ISV) comprises scientific and specialized words whose language of origin may or may not be certain, but which are in current use in several modern languages (that is, translingually, whether in naturalized, lo ...
from New Latin
New Latin (also called Neo-Latin or Modern Latin) is the revival of Literary Latin used in original, scholarly, and scientific works since about 1500. Modern scholarly and technical nomenclature, such as in zoological and botanical taxonomy ...
, from ''Cucurbita
''Cucurbita'' (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as ''cucurbits'' or ''cucurbi''), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and ...
'', the type genus
In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name.
Zoological nomenclature
According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nomina ...
, + '' -aceae'', a standardized suffix for plant family names in modern taxonomy. The genus name comes from the Classical Latin
Classical Latin is the form of Literary Latin recognized as a literary standard by writers of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. It was used from 75 BC to the 3rd century AD, when it developed into Late Latin. In some later pe ...
word ''cucurbita
''Cucurbita'' (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as ''cucurbits'' or ''cucurbi''), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and ...
'', "gourd".
Description
Most of the plants in this family are annual vine
A vine ( Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners thems ...
s, but some are woody liana
A liana is a long- stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil at ground level and uses trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in search of direct sunlight. The word ''liana'' does not refer to a ...
s, thorny shrubs, or trees ('' Dendrosicyos''). Many species have large, yellow or white flowers. The stems are hairy and pentangular. Tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape used by climbing plants for support and attachment, as well as cellular invasion by parasitic plants such as '' Cuscuta''. There are many plants that have ten ...
s are present at 90° to the leaf petioles at nodes. Leaves are exstipulate, alternate, simple palmately lobed or palmately compound. The flowers are unisexual
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproducti ...
, with male and female flowers on different plants (dioecious
Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproducti ...
) or on the same plant (monoecious
Monoecy (; adj. monoecious ) is a sexual system in seed plants where separate male and female cones or flowers are present on the same plant. It is a monomorphic sexual system alongside gynomonoecy, andromonoecy and trimonoecy.
Monoecy i ...
). The female flowers have inferior ovaries. The fruit is often a kind of modified berry
A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, rasp ...
called a pepo.
Fossil history
One of the oldestfossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
cucurbits so far is †''Cucurbitaciphyllum lobatum'' from the Paleocene
The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek ''pal ...
epoch, found at Shirley Canal, Montana
Montana () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West List of regions of the United States#Census Bureau-designated regions and divisions, division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North ...
. It was described for the first time in 1924 by the paleobotanist Frank Hall Knowlton. The fossil leaf is palmate, trilobed with rounded lobal sinuses and an entire or serrate margin. It has a leaf
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
pattern similar to the members of the genera ''Kedrostis
''Kedrostis'' is a genus of ± 35 species climbing or trailing herbs in the family Cucurbitaceae. Its native range is tropical Africa and Asia.
Species
# '' Kedrostis abdallai'' A. Zimmermann
# ''Kedrostis africana'' (L.) Cogn.
# ''Kedrosti ...
'', ''Melothria
''Melothria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the Americas from the United States to Argentina, and with some introductions in Africa and elsewhere. A number of Old World species formerly in ''Melothria'' wer ...
'' and '' Zehneria''.
Classification
Tribal classification
The most recent classification of Cucurbitaceae delineates 15 tribes
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to confl ...
:
* Tribe Gomphogyneae Benth. & Hook.f.
** '' Alsomitra'' (Blume) Spach (1 sp.)
** '' Bayabusua'' (1 sp.)
** ''Gomphogyne
''Gomphogyne'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Himalaya
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the T ...
'' Griff. (2 spp.)
** ''Gynostemma
''Gynostemma'' is a genus of perennial climbing vines in the Cucurbitaceae, cucumber, gourd, and melon family, comprising at least 19 species, all native to the tropical East or Far East, inclusive of the Himalayas: China (with 9 endemism, endemi ...
'' Blume (10 spp.)
** ''Hemsleya
''Hemsleya'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Eastern Himalayas to southern China and Papuasia. It is native to the countries of Assam (in India), Bismarck Archipelago (island group, part ...
'' Cogn. ex F.B.Forbes & Hemsl. (30 spp.)
** '' Neoalsomitra'' Hutch. (12 spp.)
* Tribe Triceratieae A.Rich.
** '' Anisosperma'' Silva Manso (1 sp.)
** ''Cyclantheropsis
''Cyclantheropsis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most i ...
'' Harms (3 spp.)
** '' Fevillea'' L. (8 spp.)
** ''Pteropepon
''Pteropepon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Western South America to Northwestern Argentina and Brazil.
Species:
*'' Pteropepon acaranthus''
*'' Pteropepon deltoideus''
*'' Pterop ...
'' (Cogn.) Cogn. (5 spp.)
** ''Sicydium
''Sicydium'' is a genus of gobies native to fast-flowing streams and rivers of the Americas (Central America, Mexico, Cocos Island, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela) with a couple species native to Middle Africa.
Species
There ...
'' Schltdl. (7 spp.)
* Tribe Zanonieae Benth. & Hook.f.
** ''Gerrardanthus
''Gerrardanthus'' is a genus of flowering plants native to tropical Africa and South Africa, first described by William Henry Harvey (1811–1866), and named in honor of William Tyrer Gerrard (died 1866 in Mahavelona, Madagascar), botanical col ...
'' Harvey in Hook.f. (3–5 spp.)
** ''Siolmatra
''Siolmatra'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel' ...
'' Baill. (1 sp.)
** '' Xerosicyos'' Humbert (5 spp.)
** ''Zanonia
''Zanonia'' is a monotypic genus in the flowering plant family Cucurbitaceae (the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin family).
The only species is ''Zanonia indica'', a medium-sized liana found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia east to Ne ...
'' L. (1 sp.)
* Tribe Actinostemmateae H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner
** ''Actinostemma
''Actinostemma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, native to east Asia. They are slender, weakly twining/climbing annual herbs.
Species
Currently accepted species include:
*'' Actinostemma lobatum'' (Maxim.) Max ...
'' Griff. (3 spp.)
* Tribe Indofevilleeae H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner
** ''Indofevillea
''Indofevillea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Eastern Himalayas, Assam, to Tibet and Myanmar.
The genus name of ''Indofevillea'' is in honour of Louis Feuillée (1660–1732), a French ...
'' Chatterjee Chatterjee or Chattopadhyay (চট্টোপাধ্যায়) is a Bengali Hindu family name, used primarily by the Kulin group of Pancha-Gauda Brahmins in India, and associated with the Bengali Brahmin caste. ''Chatterjee'' is an Anglicize ...
(2 sp.)
* Tribe Thladiantheae H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner
** ''Baijiania
''Baijiania'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Borneo.
Species:
*''Baijiania borneensis
''Baijiania'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native ...
'' A.M.Lu & J.Q.Li (30 spp.)
** '' Thladiantha'' Bunge 1833 (5 spp.)
* Tribe Siraitieae H. Schaef. & S.S. Renner
** '' Siraitia'' Merr. (3–4 spp.)
* Tribe Momordiceae
''Momordica'' is a genus of about 60 species of annual or perennial climbers herbaceous or rarely small shrubs belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, natives of tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia and Australia
Australia, offic ...
H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner
** '' Momordica'' L. (60 spp.)
* Tribe Joliffieae Schrad.
** '' Ampelosicyos'' Thouars (5 spp.)
** ''Cogniauxia
''Cogniauxia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Western Central Tropical Africa to Angola.
Species:
*''Cogniauxia podolaena''
*''Cogniauxia trilobata
''Cogniauxia'' is a genus of flo ...
'' Baill. (2 spp.)
** ''Telfairia
''Telfairia'' is a small genus of flowering plants in the squash family which are native to Africa. They include ''Telfairia occidentalis'', the fluted pumpkin, which is an important vegetable in Nigeria and other African nations. It is also kno ...
'' Hook. (3 spp.)
* Tribe Bryonieae Dumort.
** ''Austrobryonia
''Austrobryonia'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, ve ...
'' H.Schaef. (4 spp.)
** '' Bryonia'' L. (10 spp.)
** ''Ecballium
''Ecballium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae containing a single species, ''Ecballium elaterium'', also called the squirting cucumber or exploding cucumber (not the same plant as '' Cyclanthera brachystachya''). Its ...
'' A.Rich. (1 sp.)
* Tribe Schizopeponeae C.Jeffrey
** ''Herpetospermum
''Herpetospermum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Himalaya to Southern Central China and Northern Myanmar.
Species:
*'' Herpetospermum darjeelingense''
*'' Herpetospermum operculatu ...
'' Wall. ex Hook.f. (3 spp.)
** '' Schizopepon'' Maxim. (6–8 spp.)
* Tribe Sicyoeae Schrad.
** '' Cyclanthera'' Schrad. (40 spp.)
** '' Echinocystis'' Torr. & A.Gray (1 sp.)
** '' Echinopepon'' Naudin (20 spp., including '' Brandegea'' Cogn.)
** ''Frantzia
''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco ('' Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely c ...
'' Pittier (5 spp.)
** '' Hanburia'' Seem. (7 spp.)
** '' Hodgsonia'' Hook.f. & Thomson (2 spp.)
** '' Linnaeosicyos'' H.Schaef. & Kocyan (1 sp.)
** ''Luffa
''Luffa'' is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae).
In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah, usually refers to the fruits of the species '' Luffa aegyptiaca'' and '' Luffa acuta ...
'' Mill. (5–7 spp.)
** '' Marah'' Kellogg (7 spp.)
** ''Nothoalsomitra
''Nothoalsomitra suberosa'' is a species of subtropical vines in the family Cucurbitaceae, the only member of the monotypic genus ''Nothoalsomitra''. Native to Queensland in Australia.
The species is a vigorous climber with pale corky bark and ...
'' Hutch. (1 sp.)
** '' Sicyos'' L. (75 spp., including ''Sechium
''Sechium'' is a genus in the tribe Sicyoeae of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. Its best known member is the edible and widely cultivated chayote.
Species
The accepted species in the genus are:The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published o ...
'' P.Browne)
** '' Trichosanthes'' L. (≤100 spp.)
* Tribe Coniandreae Endl.
** ''Apodanthera
''Apodanthera'' is a genus of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are:
...
'' Arn. (16 spp.)
** '' Bambekea'' Cogn. (1 sp.)
** ''Ceratosanthes
''Ceratosanthes'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most imp ...
'' Adans. (4 spp.)
** '' Corallocarpus'' Welw. ex Benth. & Hook.f. (17 spp.)
** '' Cucurbitella'' Walp. (1 sp.)
** '' Dendrosicyos'' Balf.f. (1 sp.)
** '' Doyerea'' Grosourdy (1 sp.)
** '' Eureiandra'' Hook.f. (8 spp.)
** '' Gurania'' (Schltdl.) Cogn. (37 spp.)
** '' Halosicyos'' Mart.Crov (1 sp.)
** ''Helmontia
''Helmontia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is from northern South America to northern Brazil. It is found in the countries of Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
The ge ...
'' Cogn. (2–4 spp.)
** '' Ibervillea'' Greene (9–10 spp.)
** ''Kedrostis
''Kedrostis'' is a genus of ± 35 species climbing or trailing herbs in the family Cucurbitaceae. Its native range is tropical Africa and Asia.
Species
# '' Kedrostis abdallai'' A. Zimmermann
# ''Kedrostis africana'' (L.) Cogn.
# ''Kedrosti ...
'' Medik. (28 spp.)
** '' Melotrianthus'' M.Crovetto (1–3 spp.)
** '' Psiguria'' Neck. ex Arn. (6–12 spp.)
** '' Seyrigia'' Keraudren (6 spp.)
** '' Trochomeriopsis'' Cogn. (1 sp.)
** '' Tumamoca'' Rose (2 spp.)
** '' Wilbrandia'' Silva Manso (5 spp.)
* Tribe Benincaseae
Benincaseae is one of 15 tribes in the family Cucurbitaceae.
Subtribes and genera
Benincaseae consists of at least one subtribe, 26 genera, and over 200 species.
*Benincasinae
**''Acanthosicyos''
**''Benincasa''
**'' Citrullus''
**''Coccinia'' ...
Ser.
** '' Acanthosicyos'' Welw. ex Hook.f. (1 sp.)
** '' Benincasa'' Savi (2 spp., including '' Praecitrullus'' Pangalo)
** '' Borneosicyos'' (1–2 spp.)
** '' Cephalopentandra'' Chiov. (1 sp.)
** '' Citrullus'' Schrad. (4 spp.)
** '' Coccinia'' Wight & Arn. (30 spp.)
** '' Ctenolepis'' Hook. f. 1867 (3 spp.)
** '' Cucumis'' L. (65 spp.)
** ''Dactyliandra
''Dactyliandra'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most impo ...
'' Hook.f. (2 spp.)
** '' Diplocyclos'' (Endl.) T.Post & Kuntze (4 spp.)
** '' Indomelothria'' (2 spp.)
** ''Khmeriosicyos
''Khmeriosicyos'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, ves ...
'' (1 sp.)
** '' Lagenaria'' Ser. (6 spp.)
** '' Lemurosicyos'' Keraudren (1 sp.)
** ''Melothria
''Melothria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the Americas from the United States to Argentina, and with some introductions in Africa and elsewhere. A number of Old World species formerly in ''Melothria'' wer ...
'' L. (12 spp., including '' M. scabra'')
** '' Muellerargia'' Cogn. (2 sp.)
** '' Papuasicyos'' (8 spp.)
** ''Peponium
''Peponium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Tropical and Southern Africa, and Western Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, coveri ...
'' Engl. (20 spp.)
** '' Raphidiocystis'' Hook.f. (5 spp.)
** ''Ruthalicia
''Ruthalicia'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel ...
'' C.Jeffrey (2 spp.)
** '' Scopellaria'' W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes (2 spp.)
** '' Solena'' Lour. (3 spp.)
** '' Trochomeria'' Hook.f. (8 spp.)
** '' Zehneria'' Endl. (''ca.'' 60 spp.)
* Tribe Cucurbiteae Ser.
** ''Abobra
''Abobra'' is a monotypic genus of the gourd family containing the one species ''Abobra tenuifolia'' ( syn. ''Abobra viridiflora'' Naudin, ''Bryonia tenuifolia'' Hook. & Arn.). It is a diecious, perennial climbing plant reaching up to 4 meters h ...
'' Naudin (1 sp.)
** '' Calycophysum'' H.Karst. & Triana (5 spp.)
** '' Cayaponia'' Silva Manso (50–59 spp., including '' Selysia'' Cogn.)
** '' Cionosicys'' Griseb. (4–5 spp.)
** ''Cucurbita
''Cucurbita'' (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as ''cucurbits'' or ''cucurbi''), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and ...
'' L. (15 spp.)
** '' Penelopeia'' Urb. (2 spp.)
** ''Peponopsis
''Peponopsis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the mo ...
'' Naudin (1 sp.)
** '' Polyclathra'' Bertol. (6 spp.)
** '' Schizocarpum'' Schrad. (11 spp.)
** '' Sicana'' Naudin (4 spp.)
** '' Tecunumania'' Standl. & Steyerm. (1 sp.)
Systematics
Modernmolecular phylogenetics
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
suggest the following relationships:
{, class="collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; border:solid 1px #aaa"
, -
! style="background:#F0F2F5" , Detailed Cladogram
A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to ...
showing Cucurbitaceae phylogeny
, -
,
{{Clade, style=line-height:90%;font-size:90%;
, label1=Cucurbitaceae
, 1={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Gomphogyneae
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Alsomitra''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Bayabusua''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Hemsleya
''Hemsleya'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Eastern Himalayas to southern China and Papuasia. It is native to the countries of Assam (in India), Bismarck Archipelago (island group, part ...
''
, 2=''Gomphogyne
''Gomphogyne'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Himalaya
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the T ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Gynostemma
''Gynostemma'' is a genus of perennial climbing vines in the Cucurbitaceae, cucumber, gourd, and melon family, comprising at least 19 species, all native to the tropical East or Far East, inclusive of the Himalayas: China (with 9 endemism, endemi ...
''
, 2='' Neoalsomitra''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Triceratieae
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Fevillea''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Pteropepon
''Pteropepon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Western South America to Northwestern Argentina and Brazil.
Species:
*'' Pteropepon acaranthus''
*'' Pteropepon deltoideus''
*'' Pterop ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Cyclantheropsis
''Cyclantheropsis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most i ...
''
, 2=''Sicydium
''Sicydium'' is a genus of gobies native to fast-flowing streams and rivers of the Americas (Central America, Mexico, Cocos Island, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela) with a couple species native to Middle Africa.
Species
There ...
''
, label2= Zanonieae
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Gerrardanthus
''Gerrardanthus'' is a genus of flowering plants native to tropical Africa and South Africa, first described by William Henry Harvey (1811–1866), and named in honor of William Tyrer Gerrard (died 1866 in Mahavelona, Madagascar), botanical col ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Zanonia
''Zanonia'' is a monotypic genus in the flowering plant family Cucurbitaceae (the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin family).
The only species is ''Zanonia indica'', a medium-sized liana found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia east to Ne ...
''
, 2=''Siolmatra
''Siolmatra'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel' ...
''
, 2='' Xerosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Actinostemmateae
, 1=''Actinostemma
''Actinostemma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, native to east Asia. They are slender, weakly twining/climbing annual herbs.
Species
Currently accepted species include:
*'' Actinostemma lobatum'' (Maxim.) Max ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Indofevilleeae
, 1=''Indofevillea
''Indofevillea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Eastern Himalayas, Assam, to Tibet and Myanmar.
The genus name of ''Indofevillea'' is in honour of Louis Feuillée (1660–1732), a French ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Thladiantheae
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Baijiania
''Baijiania'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Borneo.
Species:
*''Baijiania borneensis
''Baijiania'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native ...
''
, 2='' Thladiantha''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Siraitieae
, 1='' Siraitia''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1=Momordiceae
''Momordica'' is a genus of about 60 species of annual or perennial climbers herbaceous or rarely small shrubs belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, natives of tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia and Australia
Australia, offic ...
, 1='' Momordica''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Joliffieae
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Cogniauxia
''Cogniauxia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Western Central Tropical Africa to Angola.
Species:
*''Cogniauxia podolaena''
*''Cogniauxia trilobata
''Cogniauxia'' is a genus of flo ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Telfairia
''Telfairia'' is a small genus of flowering plants in the squash family which are native to Africa. They include ''Telfairia occidentalis'', the fluted pumpkin, which is an important vegetable in Nigeria and other African nations. It is also kno ...
''
, 2='' Ampelosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Bryonieae
, 1={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Ecballium
''Ecballium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae containing a single species, ''Ecballium elaterium'', also called the squirting cucumber or exploding cucumber (not the same plant as '' Cyclanthera brachystachya''). Its ...
''
, 2='' Bryonia''
, 2=''Austrobryonia
''Austrobryonia'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, ve ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Sicyoeae
, 1={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Nothoalsomitra
''Nothoalsomitra suberosa'' is a species of subtropical vines in the family Cucurbitaceae, the only member of the monotypic genus ''Nothoalsomitra''. Native to Queensland in Australia.
The species is a vigorous climber with pale corky bark and ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Hodgsonia''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Echinocystis''
, 2='' Marah''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Echinopepon''
, 2=''Frantzia
''Frantzia'' is a genus of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae containing around 6 species of herbaceous climbers with tuberous roots. All members grow in forest and secondary scrub in Central America where tacaco ('' Frantzia tacaco'') is a widely c ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Cyclanthera''
, 2='' Hanburia''
, 3='' Sicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Linnaeosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Luffa
''Luffa'' is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae).
In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah, usually refers to the fruits of the species '' Luffa aegyptiaca'' and '' Luffa acuta ...
''
, 2='' Trichosanthes''
, 2={{clade
, label1= Schizopeponeae
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Schizopepon''
, 2=''Herpetospermum
''Herpetospermum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Himalaya to Southern Central China and Northern Myanmar.
Species:
*'' Herpetospermum darjeelingense''
*'' Herpetospermum operculatu ...
''
, 3={{clade
, 1={{clade
, label1= Coniandreae
, 1=CONIANDREAE
, 2={{clade
, label1= Cucurbiteae
, 1=CUCURBITEAE
, label2=Benincaseae
Benincaseae is one of 15 tribes in the family Cucurbitaceae.
Subtribes and genera
Benincaseae consists of at least one subtribe, 26 genera, and over 200 species.
*Benincasinae
**''Acanthosicyos''
**''Benincasa''
**'' Citrullus''
**''Coccinia'' ...
, 2=BENINCASEAE
, targetA=CONIANDREAE
, subcladeA={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Bambekea''
, 2='' Eureiandra''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Dendrosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Trochomeriopsis''
, 2='' Seyrigia''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Corallocarpus''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Cucurbitella''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Doyerea''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Wilbrandia''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Psiguria''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Helmontia
''Helmontia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is from northern South America to northern Brazil. It is found in the countries of Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.
The ge ...
''
, 2='' Gurania''
, 2='' Melotrianthus''
, 3={{clade
, 1=''Kedrostis
''Kedrostis'' is a genus of ± 35 species climbing or trailing herbs in the family Cucurbitaceae. Its native range is tropical Africa and Asia.
Species
# '' Kedrostis abdallai'' A. Zimmermann
# ''Kedrostis africana'' (L.) Cogn.
# ''Kedrosti ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Ceratosanthes
''Ceratosanthes'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most imp ...
''
, 2='' Halosicyos''
, 2=''Apodanthera
''Apodanthera'' is a genus of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are:
...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Tumamoca''
, 2='' Ibervillea''
, targetB=CUCURBITEAE
, subcladeB={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Polyclathra''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Peponopsis
''Peponopsis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the mo ...
''
, 2=''Cucurbita
''Cucurbita'' (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous fruits in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae (also known as ''cucurbits'' or ''cucurbi''), native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five edible species are grown and consumed for their flesh and ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Penelopeia''
, 2='' Calycophysum''
, 3='' Sicana''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Tecunumania''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Schizocarpum''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Cionosicys''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Abobra
''Abobra'' is a monotypic genus of the gourd family containing the one species ''Abobra tenuifolia'' ( syn. ''Abobra viridiflora'' Naudin, ''Bryonia tenuifolia'' Hook. & Arn.). It is a diecious, perennial climbing plant reaching up to 4 meters h ...
''
, 2='' Cayaponia''
, targetC=BENINCASEAE
, subcladeC={{clade
, 1='' Zehneria''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Citrullus''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Peponium
''Peponium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae.
Its native range is Tropical and Southern Africa, and Western Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, coveri ...
''
, 2='' Lagenaria''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Acanthosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Raphidiocystis''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Cephalopentandra''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Lemurosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Solena''
, 2='' Borneosicyos''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Benincasa''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Ctenolepis''
, 2={{clade
, 1=''Dactyliandra
''Dactyliandra'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most impo ...
''
, 2='' Trochomeria''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1=''Ruthalicia
''Ruthalicia'' is a genus of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Indomelothria''
, 2=''Melothria
''Melothria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the Americas from the United States to Argentina, and with some introductions in Africa and elsewhere. A number of Old World species formerly in ''Melothria'' wer ...
''
, 2={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1={{clade
, 1='' Coccinia''
, 2='' Diplocyclos''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Papuasicyos''
, 2='' Scopellaria''
, 2={{clade
, 1='' Muellerargia''
, 2='' Cucumis''
{{anchor, Pests, Diseases
Pests and diseases
Sweet potato whitefly is the vector of a number of cucurbit viruses that cause yellowing symptoms throughout thesouthern United States
The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...
.{{cite journal , title=Whitefly-Transmitted Yellowing Viruses of Cucurbit Crops , publisher= American Phytopathological Society , date=2020-08-28 , doi=10.1094/grow-cuc-08-20-006 , first=William M. , last=Wintermantel, s2cid=242003450
References
{{ReflistFurther reading
* {{cite book , veditors=Bates D, Robinson R, Jeffrey C , year=1990 , title=Biology and Utilization of the Cucurbitaceae , publisher=Cornell University Press , isbn=978-0-8014-1670-5 * {{cite journal , author=Jeffrey C. , year=2005 , title=A new system of Cucurbitaceae , journal=Bot. Zhurn. , volume=90 , pages=332–335External links
Cucurbitaceae
i
i
L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval.
https://web.archive.org/web/20070103200438/http://delta-intkey.com/ {{Angiosperm families {{Taxonbar, from=Q8314 {{Authority control Rosid families Extant Danian first appearances Taxa named by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu Taxa described in 1789