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: Cucurbita – squash,

2. Cucurbitaceae
The family comprises of 100 genera and 850
species distributed mainly in tropical and sub-
tropical regions of the world. Most members are
cultivated for their edible fruits.
The common are:
Cucurbita maxima (Kadu),
Luffa cylindrica (Ghia tori),
Cucumis sativus (Cucumber),
Citrullus vulgaris (Water melon)
momordica charantia (Karela).

3. Distinguish Features
of Cucurbita maxima
Herbs with weak
stems Tendril
climber,
simple leaves palmate
flower unisexual,
epigynous, calyx 5
united, corolla 5 to
many, stamen 5,
Tricapillary,
syncarpous,
unilocular,
inferior
ovary.

4. Cucurbita maxima (kadu)
• Habit:
• Tendril climbing herb
cultivated
• edible fruit
• used vegetable.
• monoecious
• Stem:
• Weak,
• hairy,
• herbaceous,
• juicy.

5. Leaf
• Cauline and ramal,
• Alternate,
• Exstipulate,
• Petiolate (petioles long),
• Simple,
• Reticulate,
• Multicostate,
• Leaf lamina palmately
• lobed (4 – 7 lobes).

6. Flowers of Cucurbita maxima
• Male Flower (Staminate Flower)
• Bracteate,
• Pedicellate,
• Incomplete,
• Actinomorphic,
• Unisexual,
• Pentamerous,
• Staminate.

7. Calyx:
• Five sepals,
• gamosepalous,
• campanulate,
• superior.

8. Corolla:
• Five petals,
• polypetalous,
• campanulate,
• superior.

9. Androecium:
• Five stamens,
• four united in pairs and
• one free,
• sigmoid,
• superior.
Gynoecium:
The gynoecium is absent.

10. Floral Formula:
• K(5) C(5) A1+(2)+(2) G_-0.

11. Female Flower (Pistillate Flower)
• Pedicellate,
• Incomplete,
• Actinomorphic,
• Epigynous,
• Unisexual
• Pistillate,
• Pentamerous.

12. Calyx:
• Five sepals,
• Gamosepalous,
• Campanulate,
• Superior.

13. Five petals,
Gamopetalous,
Campanulate,
uperior.
Corolla:

14. • Androecium: The androecium is absent.
• Gynoecium:
• Tricarpellary,
• syncarpous,
• ovary inferior,
• unilocular
• ovules,
• placentation parietal,
• style cylindric,
• stigma trilobed.

15. Floral Formula:
• K(5) C(5) A(0) G(3).

18. Common Genera
• bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)
• bur cucumber (genus Sicyos)
• bryony (genus Bryonia)
• genus Citrulluscolocynth (C.
colocynthis)
• watermelon (C. lanatus)
• chayote (Sechium edule)
• cucumber (C. sativus)
• gherkin (C. anguria)
• melon (C. melo)muskmelon
• loofah (genus Luffa)
• musk cucumber (Sicana
odorifera)
• snake gourd (Trichosanthes
cucumerina)
• squash (genus Cucurbita)