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, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds. Lagenaria – calabash, and others that are inedible. Citrullus – watermelon (C.
Are squash and watermelon related?
The Melon Family, Cucurbitaceae, is a plant family commonly known as melons, gourds or cucurbits and includes crops like cucumbers, squashes (including pumpkins), luffas, melons (including watermelons).
What fruit is related to watermelon?
Watermelon is a member of the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds (classified as Citrullus lantus), related to the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin (Maynard, 2001).
Is a zucchini a melon?
Zucchini, Cucurbita pepo, is a member of the cucumber and melon family and is harvested while immature, making the rind tender and edible, like all summer squashes. Botanically, zucchini is a fruit, but it’s treated as a vegetable.
Is watermelon and cucumber in the same family?
Cucumbers are actually a fruit — and they belong to the same family as watermelon. Aside from their size and the thickness of their outer rind, one of the main differences between the two is the level of sweetness.
Can watermelon and zucchini cross-pollinate?
Zucchini is Cucurbita pepo and watermelons are Citrullus lanatus, so they won’t cross-pollinate to produce viable seed.”
What family is zucchini in?
Members of the cucumber family, known as cucurbits, can be planted now. They include summer squash, zucchini, winter squash, mirliton, pumpkin, gourd, cucuzzi, watermelon, cantaloupe, cushaw, luffa and, of course, cucumber. All of these vegetables produce vines that run along the ground or climb.
Why is a banana a berry but a strawberry isn t?
It turns out that blackberries, mulberries, and raspberries are not berries at all, but bananas, pumpkins, avocados and cucumbers are. So what makes a berry? Well, a berry has seeds and pulp (properly called “pericarp”) that develop from the ovary of a flower.
Is a seedless watermelon a vegetable?
It’s a fruit!
Most of us consider watermelon a fruit, because it’s sweet and juicy; it also has seeds — the botanical definition of a fruit. But watermelon is also a vegetable, from the same family that includes cucumbers and squash.
Where did watermelon originate from?
northeastern Africa
Conclusions The diverse evidence, combined, indicates that northeastern Africa is the centre of origin of the dessert watermelon, that watermelons were domesticated for water and food there over 4000 years ago, and that sweet dessert watermelons emerged in Mediterranean lands by approximately 2000 years ago.
What family is watermelon in?
Watermelon is a member of the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds (classified as Citrullus lantus), related to the cucumber, squash and pumpkin. It is planted from seeds or seedlings, harvested, and then cleared from the field like other vegetables.
What type of vegetable is zucchini?
summer squash
While it is often thought of and used as a vegetable, zucchini is technically a fruit. As a variety of summer squash, it is harvested and eaten while immature. This sets it apart from other types of squash, as does its soft rind.
What vegetables are actually fruits?
14 vegetables that are actually fruits
- Tomatoes. Even though tomatoes are technically a fruit, it doesn’t stop people from treating it and most of the other foods on this list as a vegetable.
- Peppers.
- Pumpkins.
- Cucumbers.
- Peas.
- String beans.
- Eggplant.
- Okra.
What is the closest thing to a watermelon?
The best watermelon substitutes are guava, cactus fruit, red dragon fruit, pear, honeydew melon or cantaloupe, strawberries, and pineapple. Watermelon has a distinctly watery, sweet flavor that you need to simulate in your substitution. This means that if the fruit you use is not juicy, it will not taste the same way.
Why do cucumbers taste like watermelon?
Plus, sharp-nosed people can tell that – depending on the variety – cucumbers already have a mild melon-like smell and taste. This comes from compounds called aldehydes. There’s a particular aldehyde called trans,cis-2,6-nonadienal that’s found in both cucumbers and melon, and this could be the crucial component.
Can you have an allergic reaction to watermelon?
Though rare, watermelon allergy is possible. Watermelon is widely regarded as one of summer’s tastiest treats. A staple at picnics and cookouts, this fruit is often used to flavor juice, yogurt, and candy. Symptoms of a watermelon allergy are similar to those of other food allergies.
What can watermelons cross with?
Watermelons and citron both belong to the same genus: Citrullus and, therefore, will cross-pollinate each other. Muskmelon, cantaloupe and Casaba melons will cross since they are both in the genus Cucumis and in the same species melo.
What can cross pollinate with zucchini?
Thus, zucchini squash will cross with crookneck or acorn squash, and cantaloupe can cross pollinate with honeydew melons, but melons don’t cross pollinate with cucumbers.
Can cucumbers and watermelon grow together?
Because other members of the Cucurbitae family are all attacked by cucumber beetles, planting watermelons next to these crops is not recommended: Cucumbers. Summer squash/zucchini.
What type of fruit is zucchini?
In botany, the zucchini’s fruit is a pepo, a berry (the swollen ovary of the zucchini flower) with a hardened epicarp. In cookery, it is a vegetable, usually cooked and eaten as a savory dish or accompaniment.
Are zucchini and cucumber related?
Also cylindrical, dark green on the outside, and pale on the inside, zucchini are often mistaken for cucumbers at first sight, and the two are related. The zucchini plant is also a type of gourd, but of the species cucurbita pepo—the same as pumpkins and squashes.