CHAPTER XXXIX 

 CUCURBITACEiE (Gourd Faimly) 



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 lobata) and 

 the star cucumber {Sicyos angulatus) are sometimes planted 

 as ornamental vines. The squirting cucumber {Ecballium 

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

 ous principle, elaterin, the main ingredient of elaterium. 



Habit. — 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. 



Stems 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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