CHAPTER XXXIX 

 CUCURBITACEiE (Gourd Family) 



There are about 650 species of cucurbits, mainly in tropical 

 regions. All cultivated cucurbits are easily injured by 

 frost, and are distinctly warm season crops. 



A number of species are of economic importance. Chief of 

 these are the pumpkin, squash, watermelon, muskmelon, and 

 cucumber. The wild cucumber [Echinocystis lohata) and 

 the star cucumber {Sicyos angulatus) are sometimes planted 

 as ornamental vines. The squirting cucumber {Echallium 

 elaterium) is a fleshy herb containing a cathartic and poison- 

 ous principle, elaterin, the main ingredient of elaterium. 



H'.abit.— The members of this family are commonly known 

 as "cucurbits." The majority of them are annual, climbing 

 or trailing herbs, with tendrils, but often reaching a large 

 size. 



Steins and Leaves. — The stems are hollow and usually 

 covered with stiff hairs. The leaves are large, alternate, 

 petioled, heart-shaped, palmately lobed or dissected. The 

 tendrils arise as a rule in the axils of leaves. The same ten- 

 dril may be dextrorse and sinistrorse at different points along 

 its axis and may be simple or forked. 



Flowers. — The flowers (Figs. 246 and 247) are axillary, 

 either solitary, paniculate, or rarely racemose or subumbel- 

 late. They are monoecious or dioecious, commonly white or 

 yellow, rarely blue or red. The calyx forms a tube which is 

 adnate to the inferior ovary; its limb is tubular or campanu- 

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