CUCURBITACE^ 6tt 



(early squashes), the staminate flowers are on long peduncles, 

 while the pistillate flowers occur near the base of the plant 

 on comparatively short peduncles. In the long-running 

 squashes (fall and winter types), the staminate flowers are 

 borne near the center of the plant on long peduncles, while 

 the pistillate occur some distance from the roots, on compara- 

 tively short stalks. The flower stalks (peduncles) may be 

 strongly ridged (as in C pepo and C. moschata) or compara- 

 tively smooth (as in C. maxima) . In the staminate flowers, the 

 calyx tube and corolla are campanulate and five-lobed; the 

 stamens are three in number, inserted on the calyx tube, the 

 filaments are free, and the anthers large, linear, and more 

 or less united; the ovary is rudimentary. In the pistillate 

 flowers, the calyx and corolla are as described above; the 

 stamens are rudimentary (three staminodia commonly 

 present), pistil one, ovary oblong with three to five many- 

 ovuled placentae, style short and thick, and stigmas three to 

 five, each two-lobed and papillose. There are always many 

 more staminate flowers produced than pistiflate. 



Pollination and Fertilization. — The squashes and pump- 

 kins are usually insect-pollinated. It has been shown that 

 the varieties of C pepo, including the common Crookneck, 

 Scallop, and Pineapple squashes, and the common field 

 pumpkin, will readily cross with one another. However, the 

 above will not cross with varieties of C. maxima, including 

 Hubbard, Marblehead, Turbans, and Mammoth Chili and 

 Valparaiso pumpkins. These latter will cross with one 

 another. Varieties of C. moschata will not cross with either 

 of the above species. Cucurbita species do not cross with 

 melons and cucumbers. Squashes and pumpkins ordinarily 

 do not reach any considerable size unless the ovules are 

 fertilized. 



Mature Fruit.- — The mature fruit is a pepo. In the 



