1.2- Tribe Cucurbiteae + Overview The Cucurbitaceae, also cucurbits, are a plantfamily, sometimes called the gourd family, consisting of around a hundred genera. TheCucurbiteaeis a tribe of the Cucurbitoideaesubfamily, which is a member of theCucurbitaceaefamily, or gourd family, of flowering plants. Species are usuallymonoeciousherbaceousannualsor woodylianas. Members of the genus Cucurbita produce economically valuable fruits, namely squashes and pumpkins.
+ Genera The tribe consists of 13genera reported, but a 2011 study based on genetics reported 11. The 11 genera are: 1- Genus Abobra - Cranberry Gourd 2- Genus Calycophysum 3- Genus Cayaponia, the largest of these genera - Selysia(placed under Cayaponia in the 2011 study) 4- Genus Cionosicyos 5- Genus Cucurbita - squashesandpumpkins 6- Genus Penelopeia - Anacaona (placed under Penelopeia in the 2011 study) 7- Genus Peponopsis 8- Genus Polyclathra 9- Genus Schizocarpum 10- Genus Sicana 11- Genus Tecunumania
2- Genera of the Tribe Cucurbiteae
2.1- Genus Abobra - Cranberry Gourd + Overview Abobrais a monotypic genus of thegourd family containing the one speciesAbobra tenuifolia(syn.Abobra viridifloraNaudin.,Bryonia tenuifoliaHook.&Arn.). It is native toSouth America, and sometimes cultivated asornamental plantsand also for its edible fruits. Common names includeCranberry Gourd. + Species There is only one species in this genus: Abobra tenuifolia(syn.Abobra viridifloraNaudin.,Bryonia tenuifoliaHook.&Arn.).
2.2- Genus Calycophysum + Overview The genusCalycophysumis in the Tribe Cucurbiteae, in Subfamily Cucurbitoideae, in FamilyCucurbitaceae (gourd family), in the major group Angiosperms(Flowering plants). + Species Calycophysum brevipesPittier Calycophysum cordatumPittier Calycophysum gracileCogn. Calycophysum pedunculatumH.Karst.&Triana Calycophysum spectabile(Cogn.)C.Jeffrey&Trujillo Calycophysum villosum(Cogn.) Pittier Calycophysum weberbaueriHarms.
2.3- Genus Cayaponia + Overview Cayaponiais the largest genus in thegourd familyCucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to asmelonleaf. They are common from thesouthern United Statesto South America. Some species are also found in western Africa,Madagascar, andFernando de Noronha, which is about 354 km off the coast of Brazil.It is native the southern United States to central South America and the Caribbean islands. Most species are found in rainforests and have white or yellow-green flowers. The originalCayaponiawerepollinated by bats, but at least two shifts to bee pollination have occurred among some of its species. This is apparently the firstcladeto shift from bat to bee pollination vice bee to bat pollination.A 2011 study based on genetics placed the genus Selysiaunder this genus. + Species The genusCayaponiahas about 60 species. The important species are: Species Cayaponia espelina Species Cayaponia tayuya Species Cayaponiaamericana(Lam.) Cogn. - American melonleaf Species Cayaponiaquinqueloba(Raf.) Shinners - fivelobe cucumber Species Cayaponiaracemosa(Mill.) Cogn. - mountain melonleaf
2.5- Genus Cucurbita - squashes and pumpkins + Overview Cucurbita (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceousvine in the gourd familyCucurbitaceae, also known as cucurbits, native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Most Cucurbita species are herbaceous vines that grow several meters in length and have tendrils, but non-vining "bush" cultivars of Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita maxima have also been developed. The yellow or orange flowers on a Cucurbita plant are of two types: female and male. The female flowers produce the fruit and the male flowers produce pollen. Five species are grown worldwide for their edible fruit, variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd depending on species, variety, and local parlance, and seeds. First cultivated in the Americas before being brought to Europe by returning explorers after their discovery of the New World, plants in the genus Cucurbita are important sources of human food, beverages, and oil. + Taxonomy Various taxonomic treatments have been proposed for the Genus Cucurbita, ranging from 13-30 species. In 1990, cucurbita expert Michael Nee classified them into the following oft-cited 13 species groups (27 species total), listed by group and alphabetically, with geographic origin: Species group 1: 1- Cucurbita argyrosperma (synonymCucurbita mixta) - cushaw pumpkin; origin: Panama, Mexico. 2- Cucurbita kellyana, origin: Pacific coast of western Mexico. 3- Cucurbita palmeri, origin: Pacific coast of northwestern Mexico. 4- Cucurbita sororia, origin: Pacific coast Mexico to Nicaragua, northeastern Mexico. Species group 2: 1- Cucurbita digitata - fingerleaf gourd; origin: southwestern United States (USA), northwestern Mexico. 2- Cucurbita californica. 3- Cucurbita cordata. 4- Cucurbita cylindrata. 5- Cucurbita palmata. Species group 3: 1- Cucurbita ecuadorensis, origin: Ecuador's Pacific coast. Species group 4: 1- Cucurbita ficifolia - figleaf gourd, chilacayote; origin: Mexico, Panama, northern Chile and Argentina. Species group 5: 1- Cucurbita foetidissima - stinking gourd, buffalo gourd; origin: Mexico 2- Cucurbita scabridifolia, likely a natural hybrid of C. foetidissima and C. pedatifolia Species group 6: 1- Cucurbita galeottii is little known; origin: Oaxaca, Mexico Species group 7: 1- Cucurbita lundelliana, origin: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize Species group 8: 1- Cucurbita maxima - winter squash, pumpkin; origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador 2- Cucurbita andreana, origin - Argentina Species group 9: 1- Cucurbita moschata - butternut squash, 'Dickinson' pumpkin, golden cushaw; origin: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela Species group 10: 1- Cucurbita okeechobeensis, origin: Florida 2- Cucurbita martinezii, origin: Mexican Gulf Coast and foothills Species group 11: 1- Cucurbita pedatifolia, origin: Querétaro, Mexico 2- Cucurbita moorei Species group 12: 1- Cucurbita pepo - field pumpkin, summer squash, zucchini, vegetable marrow, courgette, acorn squash; origin: Mexico, USA 2- Cucurbita fraterna, origin: Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, Mexico 3- Cucurbita texana, origin: Texas, USA Species group 13: 1- Cucurbita radicans - calabacilla, calabaza de coyote; origin: Central Mexico 2- Cucurbita gracilior.
2.9- Genus Schizocarpum + Overview The genusSchizocarpumis in the Tribe Cucurbiteae, in Subfamily Cucurbitoideae, in FamilyCucurbitaceae (gourd family), in the major group Angiosperms(Flowering plants). Schizocarpumis a genus of nine accepted species of flowering plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceaefamily.It is native to Mexico and Central America. + Selected species The nine accepted species are: Schizocarpum dieterleae Schizocarpum filiforme Schizocarpum liebmannii Schizocarpum longisepalum Schizocarpum palmeri Schizocarpum parviflorum Schizocarpum pilosum Schizocarpum reflexum Schizocarpum tripodum