Cucurbitaceae are annual or perennial, creeping or climbing herbs, rarely shrubs. The pumpkin family includes about 900 species. The most common include: cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, melon and watermelon.
Each plant of the gourd family is very fond of light, so it can only grow in an open, sunny place. In addition, they are very thermophilic, therefore, a temperate climate can negate all attempts to grow some crops, such as watermelon and melon.
Building
The shoot of a pumpkin plant is usually creeping or climbing with tendrils, which is a modified side stem. The leaf is simple, regular, dissected to varying degrees. Flowers may be actinomorphic, unisexual, solitary or collected in axillary inflorescences. The perianth and base of the stamens usually look like a tube fused to the ovary. The corolla can be sympetalous, five-lobed, more often yellow. The number of stamens is 5, sometimes 2. The pistil contains 3, and sometimes 5 carpels. The ovary is lower, and the fruitrepresented by a pumpkin.
The most ancient representatives of the family
Early man must have collected wild edible plants such as beans and peas, or root vegetables such as carrots. It is generally accepted that these vegetables, as well as lettuce and cabbage, were grown in their gardens by primitive people. The latter are characterized by developed and tasty leaves.
The ancient Egyptians preferred various types of lettuce, cabbage, beans, watermelons, radishes, onions and artichokes. That is, even thousands of years ago, a human dinner table could boast of a good set of vegetables.
The ancient Romans and Greeks cultivated the same vegetables as the Egyptians, but added cucumbers, asparagus and celery to the list.
In general, the most ancient representatives of the pumpkin family are cucumbers and watermelons.
The most popular representatives of the family
The pumpkin family includes:
Cucumbers are the most common vegetable crops in the world. The main positive point is the fact that cucumbers can be grown all year round - in winter and spring in heated greenhouses, in spring and summer - in ordinary greenhouses, greenhouses and small-sized film shelters, and in summer and autumn - in open ground. Cucumbers - ancient representatives of the pumpkin family - are annual herbaceous plants and the most heat-demanding vegetable crops. Normal growth can provide a temperature not lower than 25-27 degrees, otherwise the plant stopsevolve
Pumpkin is an annual plant with single male and female flowers. The fruit grows large and multi-seeded. On the pentagonal stem are 5-7-lobed leaves. Some varieties can produce fruits weighing up to 90 kg. A bushy type of pumpkin is called a squash. Country of origin - Mexico, pumpkin came to Europe in the 16th century
Melons and watermelons
Melons and watermelons are gourds, especially demanding on air temperature and soil.
Melon is an annual plant belonging to the gourd family. Flowers are often unisexual, rarely bisexual. The male flower is usually collected in a bunch, and the female flower is single and very large. The fruit is fragrant, juicy.
Watermelon is a plant characterized by recumbent wattle, deeply pinnately dissected leaves and many tripartite tendrils. The flesh of the fruit is blood red and sweet. Juice contains up to 5% sugar. Africa is considered the birthplace of watermelon, where representatives of the wild watermelon-coloquint grow, which are characterized by a small fruit (no larger than a walnut) and hard pulp.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin, of course, is part of the gourd family. Which plants are forage, and which ones can be put on the table? The first is characterized by a huge size and weight, while the second meets completely different requirements - a small size, good taste and a high content of nutrients and healing nature.
Pumpkin is a very ancient culture that grew in America 3 thousand years ago. After the New World was discovered, the plant was brought to Europe. Currently, many southern regions believe that this is primordially Russian culture.
Nutritional value
The pumpkin family is rich in sugar, carotene, various vitamins, namely B1, B2, B6, C, E, PP, T. The latter significantly speeds up the digestion process, and also facilitates the absorption of meat and other heavy foods.
Pumpkin contains s alts of substances such as phosphoric acid, potassium, magnesium, and if we take into account the amount of iron, then it can be called a champion among vegetables. In addition, it contains a lot of potassium and pectin, which block the occurrence of inflammation in the large intestine.
Knowing people claim that pumpkin porridge, often eaten, has a wonderful healing effect against hypertension, obesity and metabolic disorders. And insomnia can be cured with pumpkin juice or pumpkin decoction with honey.
The seeds of this miraculous vegetable are an absolutely safe anthelmintic.
About types of pumpkin
Large-fruited pumpkin is the most cold-resistant, but ripens much later than hard-barked. The stem of the plant has a cylindrical shape. The fruit is characterized by such indicators as large size, long shelf life, high palatability and a large number of seeds.
The hard-skinned pumpkin is not afraid of sharp temperature fluctuations. stem happensfaceted, furrowed. The fruit is characterized by: small size, woody rind and prickly subulate omission.
Muscat pumpkin is considered the most thermophilic and late-ripening, often long-branched, without a bush form. The stem is represented by a rounded shape. The fruit is small or medium, has an elongated shape and is narrowed in the middle. The flesh is orange in color and has a nutmeg flavor.
In addition, among amateur vegetable growers, the following are very popular: dining, fodder, gymnosperms, decorative and utensil pumpkins. Their biological features are not very different from those described above.
Healing properties of gourds
The pumpkin family includes an undeniably useful representative - a pumpkin. It contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals that are very beneficial for human he alth.
He althy effects of pumpkin:
- ensuring the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- get rid of such troubles as constipation and parasites;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- diuretic action;
- detoxification;
- reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood;
- removal of pain in acute cystitis and urethritis;
- weight normalization;
- healing from headaches, insomnia and even nervous disorders.
In addition, this vegetable is highly valued in the field of beauty. So, with the help of a pumpkin mask, you can smooth the skin and replenish the vitamin reserve, cure acne and various kinds of eczema.
