CUCURBITA 



5S1 



many feet, having a tendency to produce adventitious roots at 

 the nodes. The growth of these branches is extremely vigorous, 

 and Holroyd (18) has stated that "members of this group may 

 form a growth of stem and leafage within the growing period of 

 four months that is probably unequaled by any other annual 

 herbaceous plant family." In C. Pepo, he has reported an instance 

 in which a single plant developed stem and branch growth exceed- 

 ing 140 feet in total length, 

 from which were diverged as 

 many as 450 leaves. 



The stems are roughly five- 

 angled, hollow at maturity, 

 and bear multicellular hairs 

 or trichomes which are either 

 sharp-pointed and conical or 

 long-stalked, capitate, and 

 glandular. The branching is 

 of the sympodial type in which 

 a lateral branch continues the 

 stem axis; and, by its growth, 

 displaces the terminal branch 

 so that the latter occupies a 

 position on the opposite side 

 of the axis from the leaf which 

 arises at that node. The ter- 

 minal branches form the ten- 

 drils which may be simple or have three or four branches. (Fig. 

 303.) The tendril is generally interpreted as a shoot, the basal por- 

 tion being the branch, and the terminal portion a specialized leaf. 



The large cordate leaves are petiolate and usually three- to five- 

 lobed, the prominence of the lobing varying with the species and 

 variety. In C. Pepo, the hairy leaves are commonly five-lobed, 

 sometimes three, and frequently have white spots at the angles of 

 the veins. In C. maxima, the leaves are usually without lobes or 

 with short, rounded ones; and in C. moschata, they are lobed but 

 more nearly orbicular in outline than in C. Pepo. The texture of 

 the leaves is variable, being somewhat harsh in C. Pepo and less 

 so in the other two species. 



The Inflorescence. — The yellow flowers are monoecious and 

 occur singly in the axils of the leaves. In trailing varieties, the 



Fig. 303. Cucurbita Pepo showing sympod- 

 ial branching and relative position of tendrils 

 and inflorescences, variety Table Queen. 



