Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera
(L.) Harz
Acorn squash, Fordhook squash, Ornamental gourd, Pattypan squash
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(c) Amy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Amy
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(c) Надежда Уразова, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Надежда Уразова
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(c) Zachary Dunsdon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Zachary Dunsdon
Summary
Source: WikipediaCucurbita pepo is a cultivated plant of the genus Cucurbita. It yields varieties of winter squash and pumpkin, but the most widespread varieties belong to the subspecies Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo, called summer squash. It has been domesticated in the Americas for thousands of years, from where it was spread by early colonisers to Europe and later across the rest of the Old World in the context of the Columbian Exchange. Some authors maintain that C. pepo is derived from C. texana, while others suggest that C. texana is merely feral C. pepo. They have a wide variety of uses, especially as a food source. C. pepo seems more closely related to C. fraterna, though disagreements exist about the exact nature of that connection, too. It is a host species for the melonworm moth, the squash vine borer, and the pickleworm. They are also the preferred pollen source for squash bees, which are the primary pollinators in the Americas.
Description
A member of the pumpkin family adapted to temperate climates, grown for its edible fruit.
This description is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
Fresh squash is cut into spiral strips, folded into hanks and hung up to dry for winter use. The blossoms are fried in grease and used as a delicacy in combination with other foods. Fresh squash, either whole or in pieces, is roasted in ashes and used for food. In the Zuni culture, the gourds are made into cups, ladles, dippers, and storage receptacles. A poultice of seeds and blossoms was used to treat cactus scratches.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
Asia, Central America, Guatemala, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, Serbia, USA,
Notes
There are 25 Cucurbita species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Thinbaw-bu
References (4)
- Nee, M., 1990, The Domestication of Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae). Economic Botany, Vol. 44, No. 3, Supplement: New Perspectives on the Origin and Evolution of New World Domesticated Plants. pp. 56-68
- Schneider, E., 2001, Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini: The essential reference. HarperCollins. p 615
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
- Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 217
