CUCURBIT ACE^ 613 



CUCUKBITA PEPO 



Description. — This is an annual species, with long, running 

 stems; in the so-called "bush-pumpkins," which include the 

 scallops (patty-pans or cymblings) and summer or crookneck 

 squashes, the plants are more compact. The leaves are 

 three- to five-lobed. The calyx lobes are narrow. The 

 peduncle is not enlarged next to the fruit. The fruit varies 

 much in size and shape. 



Origin. — There is a question as to the origin of the pump- 

 kin. It is considered by some to be of American origin, as 

 it was cultivated by the Indians at the time America was 

 discovered. However, it is claimed by others that its original 

 home is southern Asia. 



Types and Varieties. — Cucurhita pepo includes the follow- 

 ing groups: 



Plants with long, running stems, True field pumpkins (Connecticut field and 

 Mammoth are common varieties). 

 Some of the vegetable marrows have long, running stems, while others 

 have a bushy habit. As a group they are relatively unimportant. 



Plants bushy, Summer squashes, crooknecks. In these the neck is decidedly 

 crooked and narrow, the distal end is swollen but terminating in a point, 

 the skin is orange-colored and covered with many round excrescences. 

 Scallop or pally-pan varieties. These are also known as custard marrows, 

 and in the South as cymblings. The leaves are large, entire, and very 

 slightly five-lobed; the fruit is much broader than long, the edge coarsely 

 scalloped; the flesh is solid and floury; the skin is smooth and of various 

 colors. The pineapple summer squashes are oblong-conical varieties. 



Plants with slender, running stems; leaves lobed; fruit small, hard, not edible, 

 of various shapes. Gourds (in part) (C. pepo var. ovifera). 



Not all "gourds" belong to the species Cucurhita pepo. 

 In addition to this species, they are also referred to Lagenaria 

 vulgaris, Lufa, Cucumis dipsaceus, Cucumis anguria, and 

 Benincasa c&rifera. 



