AGRICULTURAL BOTANY 181 



The chief characteristics are as follows : 



1. Flowers collected into a head; 



2. Corolla of five united petals (gamopetalous) ; 



3. Five stamens united by their anthers into a tube; 



4. Two stigmas, one style, one-ovuled ovary. 



Cucurbitaceae, or Gourd Family. - - This family in- 

 cludes the squash, the pumpkin, the cucumber, the 

 muskmelon, the watermelon, the citron, and the gourd. 



The plants are mostly herbs with tendrils, the flowers 

 distinguished by having stamens and pistils in separate 

 flowers. These may be on the same plant (monoecious), 

 or the pistillate flowers may be on one plant and the 

 staminate on another plant (dioecious). 



Besides the above characteristics, the gourd family 

 has the following : 



1. Five stamens united by their anthers; 



2. Two or three stigmas, seeds large, usually flat. 



