Edited by Ho Dinh Hai Long An - Vietnam Updated: 3/4/2015
1- Introduction to the Family Cucurbitaceae (Gourd family)
+ Overview The Cucurbitaceae, also cucurbits, are a plantfamily, sometimes called the gourd family, consisting of around a hundred genera. The plants in this family are grown around the tropics and in temperate areas, where those with edible fruits were among the earliest cultivated plants both in the Old and New Worlds. The Cucurbitaceae family ranks among the highest of plant families for number and percentage of species used as human food. Most of the plants in this family are annualvines, but some are woody lianas, thorny shrubs, or trees (Dendrosicyos). Many species have large, yellow or white flowers. The stems are hairy and pentangular. Tendrils are present at 90° to the leaf petioles at nodes. Leaves are exstipulate alternate simple palmately lobed or palmately compound. The flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers on different plants (dioecious) or on the same plant (monoecious). The female flowers have inferior ovaries. The fruit is often a kind of modified berry called a pepo. + The most important genera The Cucurbitaceae consist of 98 proposed genera with 975 species, mainly in regions tropical and subtropical. The most important genera of the gourd family are: 1- GenusCucurbita - squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds 2- GenusLagenaria - mostly inedible gourds 3- GenusCitrullus - watermelon (C. lanatus, C. colocynthis) and others 4- GenusCucumis - cucumber (C. sativus), various melons 5- GenusLuffa - common name also luffa
2- Classification of the Family Cucurbitaceae
2.1- General Classification The following is a classification given by Charles Jeffrey in 1990. However, a 2011 study based on genetics does not support this taxonomy with two subfamilies and eight tribes, but rather delineates 15 tribes, five of them new, consisting of 95 genera rather than Jeffrey's 121. a-Subfamily Zanonioideae (small striate pollen grains) * Tribe Zanonieae + Subtribe Fevilleinae: consisting of 1 genus - Genus Fevillea + Subtribe Zanoniinae: consisting of 7 genera Genera: Alsomitra, Zanonia, Siolmatra, Gerrardanthus, Zygosicyos, Xerosicyos, Neoalsomitra + Subtribe Gomphogyninae: consisting of 3 genera Genera: Hemsleya, Gomphogyne, Gynostemma + Subtribe Actinostemmatinae: consisting of 2 genera Genera: Bolbostemma, Actinostemma + Subtribe Sicydiinae: consisting of 6 genera Genera: Sicydium, Chalema, Pteropepon, Pseudosicydium, Cyclantheropsis
b-Subfamily Cucurbitoideae * Tribe Melothrieae + Subtribe Dendrosicyinae: consisting of 16 genera Genera: Kedrostis, Dendrosicyos, Corallocarpus, Ibervillea, Tumamoca, Halosicyos, Ceratosanthes, Doyerea, Trochomeriopsis, Seyrigia, Dieterlea, Cucurbitella, Apodanthera, Guraniopsis, Melothrianthus, Wilbrandia. + Subtribe Guraniinae: consisting of 3 genera Genera: Helmontia, Psiguria, Gurania. + Subtribe Cucumerinae: consisting of 6 genera Genera: Melancium, Cucumeropsis, Posadaea, Melothria, Muellarargia, Zehneria, Cucumis (including: Mukia, Dicaelospermum, Cucumella, Oreosyce, and Myrmecosicyos ). + Subtribe Trochomeriinae: consisting of 4 genera Genera: Solena, Trochomeria, Dactyliandra, Ctenolepis. * Tribe Schizopeponeae: consisting of 1 genus Genus: Schizopepon * Tribe Joliffieae + Subtribe Thladianthinae: consisting of 4 genera Genera: Indofevillea, Siraitia, Thladiantha, Momordica + Subtribe Telfairiinae: consisting of 1 genus Genus: Telfairia * Tribe Trichosantheae + Subtribe Hodgsoniinae: consisting of 1 genus Genus: Hodgsonia + Subtribe Ampelosicyinae: consisting of 2 genera Genera: Ampelosicyos, Peponium + Subtribe Trichosanthinae: consisting of 3 genera Genera: Gymnopetalum, Trichosanthes, Tricyclandra + Subtribe Herpetosperminae: consisting of 4 genera Genera: Cephalopentandra, Biswarea, Herpetospermum, Edgaria * Tribe Benincaseae + Subtribe Benincasinae: consisting of 17 genera Genera: Cogniauxia, Ruthalicia, Lagenaria, Benincasa, Praecitrullus, Citrullus, Acanthosicyos, Eureiandra, Bambekea, Nothoalsomitra, Coccinia, Diplocyclos, Raphidiocystis, Lemurosicyos, Zombitsia, Ecballium, Bryonia. + Subtribe Luffinae: consisting of 1 genus Genus: Luffa * Tribe Cucurbiteae (pantoporate, spiny pollen): consisting of 13 genera Genera: Cucurbita, Sicana, Tecunumania, Calycophysum, Peponopsis, Anacaona, Polyclathra, Schizocarpum, Penelopeia, Cionosicyos, Cayaponia, Selysia, Abobra. * Tribe Sicyeae (trichomatous nectary, 4- to 10-colporate pollen grains) + Subtribe Cyclantherinae: consisting of 13 genera Genera: Hanburia, Echinopepon, Marah, Echinocystis, Vaseyanthus, Brandegea, Apatzingania, Cremastopus, Elateriopsis, Pseudocyclanthera, Cyclanthera, Rytidostylis. + Subtribe Sicyinae:consisting of 7 genera Genera: Sicyos, Sicyosperma, Parasicyos, Microsechium, Sechium, Sechiopsis, Pterosicyos.