CUCURBITACEAE

(ASSIGNMENT # 02 SEMESTER SPRING-2020)

Submission Date (April 27, 2020)

BY

Group #04

Muhammad Aqib Shahzad

Zainab Ashraf

Sajawal khan

Abeera Taimur

Abeera Ashraf

Syeda Laiqa Mustafa

BOT-103 (Plant Systematics, Anatomy and Development)

BS-II (C)

Submitted to Mam Noshia Arshad

Department of Chemistry

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 Table of Contents

CUCURBITACEAE ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Systematic Classification ............................................................................................................................... 4

Distribution ................................................................................................................................................... 4

Vegetative Characters ................................................................................................................................... 5

Habit .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Root .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Stem .......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Leaves........................................................................................................................................................ 6

Morphological nature of tendril ............................................................................................................... 6

Floral characters............................................................................................................................................ 6

Inflorescence ............................................................................................................................................. 7

Flower ....................................................................................................................................................... 7

Male flower ........................................................................................................................................... 7

Female flower ....................................................................................................................................... 8

Pollination ................................................................................................................................................. 9

Fruit .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Seed .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Floral diagram and floral formula ........................................................................................................... 10

Symbols description .................................................................................................................................... 10

Common examples ..................................................................................................................................... 11

Economic importance ................................................................................................................................. 11

Vegetables and fruits .............................................................................................................................. 11

Medicinal Importance ............................................................................................................................. 12

Ornamental ............................................................................................................................................. 12

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 Bath sponges ........................................................................................................................................... 12

Weeds ..................................................................................................................................................... 13

Food Supplements .................................................................................................................................. 13

Decorative Items ..................................................................................................................................... 13

References .................................................................................................................................................. 14

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 CUCURBITACEAE

The family cucurbitaceae, which is also known as Gourd family is the family of flowering plants and it
belongs to order Cucurbitales. It contains round about 98 Genera and 975 Species of different food and
different ornamental plants. All the members of this important family are annual or perennial herbs which
are native to temperature and different Tropical areas and it include Cucumbers, pumpkins, melons and
squashes. Some selective species of this family are very sensitive to different temperatures near freezing
point. And it is very effective factor and it effects geographic distribution and
in addition to area of cultivation. Cucurbits usually have less nutrient contents
with the exception of winter squashes. Most common species of this family
are fast-growing climbing vines which have long-stalked palmate leaves that
substitute along with the stem. In the annual species there is a branched,
spirally coiled tendril. Some species have unisexual flowers they usually
have five white or yellow petals.
Figure 1 (plant of cucurbitaceae)

Systematic Classification
The systematic position is given bellow…

Division: spermatophyte

Sub division: phanerograms

Class: Dicotyledonae

Sub Class: Polypetalae

Series: Calyciflorae

Order: Passiflrales

Family: Cucurbitaceae

There are some general characters of this family which we’ll further discuss.

A) Distribution
The family cucurbitaceae perhaps distributed throughout the world. There are number of different species
and genera in different important countries, which is why it is also considered as one of the most important
families among other different families of plants. The latest research on this family it is revealed that there

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 are round about 100 Genera and almost 975 Species of this family are present all over the globe. In
Pakistan there are 20 Genera and 37 Species are discovered till now.

B) Vegetative Characters
The vegetative characters of cucurbitaceae are following

1) Habit
2) Root
3) Stem
4) Leaves
5) Morphological nature of tendril

A short detail on each character is given below:

1) Habit
Most of plants belong to this family are annual or perennial herbs (last
throughout the whole year), shrubs are rarely found in this family.
Climber in nature and uses their tendrils for climbing purpose.

Figure 2 (climbing plant)

2) Root
Plants of this family have tap root system in them. Sometime the roots
are branched and they are thickened. The reason behind the thickness of
roots is that they store water and food.

Figure 3 (Root)

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3) Stem
Their stem is tabular, herbaceous, pointed and climbing in nature.

Figure 4 (Stem)

4) Leaves
The leaves of plants belong to this family are alternate, petiolate and muffled.
The leaves are simple and lobbed and palmately veined. The tendrils are
present on the axil of leaves or it may also present on the opposite to the leaves.
In the case of acanthosicyos, thorns are present rather than leaves.
Figure 5 (Leaves)
5) Morphological nature of tendril
Morphologicalinatureiofitendrilihasibeeniaisubjectiofigreat controversy. Tendrilsihave been considered by
variousiauthorsiasiroots, stems,ileaves,istipules,ishoots,ifloweristalks oriorgansisuiigeneris. According
toiBrauni(1876)iitiisiaimodifiedibracteole.Englericonsiderediitiis modified
stipule. Mulleri(1887) regarded theiupperiportioniofitheitendril
asiaimodifiedileafiandiloweristiffiportioniasitheiaxis. This view was
supportedibyiHagerupi(1930).iProbablyitheitendrils originateiasistipules as
shownibyitheirilateral position toileaf-baseiand beingirarelyipaired.iBy
theiworkiofiSensarma(1955)iitiappearsithatithe tendrils isipartly
vascularised initheimanneriofiaistipuleiinisomeicases. Figure 6 (Tendril)

C) Floral characters
The floral characters of this family include:

1) Inflorescence
2) Flower
3) Pollination
4) Fruit
5) Seed
6) Floral formulae & Floral diagram

A short detail on each floral character is given below:

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 1) Inflorescence
In case of inflorescence of cucurbitaceae, a huge variation is present among different species. This is usually
axillary and bears solitary female flower. The male flower perhaps in the form of racemes. Flowers are
usually solitary, they maybe racemose or it may be cymose. The plants are either monoecious or dioecious.

2) Flower
The flowers belong to plants of this family are regular. They are mostly
unisexual but it is very rare event when they are bisexual. Actinomorphic,
pentsmerous and usually perigynous. The color of flowers is white or may be
it is yellow. There are two types of flowers which are:

I. Male flower Figure 7 (flower of

cucurbitaceae's Plant)
Usually the male flowers originate in plenty. The parts of male flower are
following:

Figure 8 (Male flower of watermelon)

 Calyx
In the male flower the sepals are 5 in number. These sepals are gamosepalous, sepals are pointed,
imbricate, campanulate and sepals are rarely petaloid.
 Corolla
In corolla the Petals are also 5 in number. These Gamopetalous and usually located at the base of plant
or maybe they are present on the whole body of plant. Polypetalous, imbricate or maybe valvate
aestivation.
 Androecium
In female flower the androecium is signified by staminodes. There is a lot of variation in case of
androecium. The stamens are also five in number. Usually it is present with five stamens along with

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 dithecous anther. On the other hand thladiantha is with five stamens
along with monothecous anthers, among the five the one stamen stands
apart. And in case of Lagenaria, Cucumis and Citrullus the stamens are
three in number, among these three, the one is monothecous anther and
the remaining two are dithecous anthers. In Cucurbita three stamens
with twisted anthers are present. The stamens are sometimes in
Figure 9 (Column)
combined form and sometimes they are in free form to build a central
column.

 Gynoecium
Gynoecium are absent in case of male flower.

II. Female flower

They are less in numbers as compared to male flower. Its parts are:

Figure 10 (Female flower of

watermelon)

 Calyx
Same as male flower sepals are 5 in number in female flower. Sepals usually in a gamosepalous
condition. Calyx tube is adnate in condition with respect to ovary wall. Calyx is superior in female
flower. Imbricate aestivation is found in female flower.
 Corolla
Corolla is also 5 in number just like male flower and it is gamopetalous in condition. Corolla is
implanted on the calyx tube. Corolla is also superior aestivation is imbricate.
 Androecium
Origins of stamens may be a 0, 3 or 5.

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  Gynoecium
It is present only in female flowers. In female flower the gynoecium is usually present in 3 syncarpous
carpals with fully inferior ovary. So it is a tricarpellary with fused origin. Ovary is unilocular but
sometimes it looks trilocular with three intruded and bifurcated placentae. In placenta the ovary
contains many antropous ovules which are not borne in center. So female flowers have 1 short style
with 3stigmas. For instance, In Sechium the ovary is unilocular with single ovule which is bitegmic.
The style is thick and elongated with bifurcated stigmas for each of the carpel

3) Pollination
Pollination of the cucurbitaceae family is through the insects (Entomophilous).

Figure 11 (pollination in plants)

4) Fruit
The fruit is fleshy or berry having soft or hard pericarp. This type of
fruit is termed as Pepo. It is usually indehiscent, but rarely dehiscent
only in Mimordica. The shape and size of the fruit varies considerabley
in various species. Sometimes the fruit is often very large in various
species.
Figure 12 (Fruits of
cucurbitaceae's family)
Common fruits of this family are

 Cucumis melo (Cucumber)

 Cucumis melo mimordica (Phut)
 Cucumis melo utilissimus (Kakri)
 Cucumis sativus (Cucumber)
 Cucurbita maxima (Red Pumpkin)

5) Seed
The seeds of cucurbitaceae are compressed, flattened, numerous, oily
and non-endospermic with straight embryo. The seeds possesed large
leafy cotyledons. They are dispersed by explosive opening of the Figure 13 (Seeds)
fruit.

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6) Floral diagram and floral formula

Figure 14 (Floral formula and floral diagram)

Symbols description

Figure 15 (Symbolic description)

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 Common examples

 Benincasa hispida (White gourd)

 Citrullus fistulosus (Tinda)
 Citrullus vulgaris (Water melon)
 Coccinia indica/cardifolia (Donda kaya)
 Cucumis melo (Cucumber)
 Cucumis melo mimordica (Phut)
 Cucumis melo utilissimus (Kakri)
 Cucumis sativus (Cucumber)
 Cucurbita maxima (Red Pumpkin)
 Cucurbita moschata (Pumpkin)
 Cucurbita pepo (Field Pumpkin)
 Cyclanthera sps.
 Ecballium sps.
 Langenaria siceraria (bottle gourd; sorakaya)
 Luffa acutangula (Ribbed gourd)
 Luffa cylindrica (gourd; neti beerakaya)
 Mimordica charantia (bitter gourd)
 Sechium sps.
 Trichosanthes anguina (Snake gourd)

Economic importance

1) Vegetables and fruits

The plants of this family are being used as fruits as well as vegetables some of the most importance fruits
and vegetables belonging to this family are mentioned below:
 Cucumis melo (Urdu – Kharbuza): Its fruits are edible and its various types are known. C. melo var.
momordica is known as Phut and C. melo var. utilissimus is called Kakri. Cucumis sativus is known as
Khira.

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  Citrullus vulgaris (Urdu – Tarbuz): Its fruits are large. The fruits ripen during summer season and
cultivated on the sandy beds of rivers. C. vulgaris var. fistulosus is called as Tinda which is vegetable.
 Cucurbita maxima (Kaddu): Cucurbita maxima is Kaddu while C. pepo is Safed Kaddu. Both of them
are used as vegetable.
 Benincasa heipida (Petha): It is also used as vegetable. PETHE-KI-MITHAI is also prepared from it.
 Lagenaria vulgaris (Lauki): Lagenaria vulgaris is Lauki. It is commonly used as a vegetable. Shells
sitar is made from itds ripe fruit.
 Trichosanthes dioca (Parwal): Trichosanthes dioca is Parwal whose fruits are also used in the
preparations of vegetables. T. anguina is Chachinga which is also utilized as a vegetable.
 Luffa acutangula (Torai): Luffa acutangula is called Torai. This is also a well-known vegetable.
 Momordica charantia (Karela): Karela is Momordica charantia. The fruits are too bitter but used in
vegetable preparations. It is very useful in gout and rheumatism treatment.

2) Medicinal Importance
Few plants of this family are also well known for their medicinal importance.

 Citrullus colocynthis fruits are used in the production of alkaloid colocynthin. Its fruits and roots are
used as a protection against snake bite. The alkaloid is also used in the cure of other diseases.
 Ecballium elatarium fruits produce elaterium of medicine which are effective in the treatment of
nacrotic disorders and in hydrophobia.

3) Ornamental
Some plants such as Ecballium, Sechium and Sicyos are grown in gardens because of their beauty.

Figure 16 (Plant of Ecballium)

4) Bath sponges
The vegetable sponge (Luna) is dried. It is used as bath sponge by removing its inner fibrous fruit. It is also
used in dish washing.

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5) Weeds
Some plants of this family also act as weeds.

6) Food Supplements
The plants of this family provide large number of fruits which could be eaten raw or could be
eaten after cooking. They are nutritious as well as tasty.
Following are some of the common fruits obtained from this family:
 Benincasa hispida (White gourd)
 Citrullus fistulosus (Tinda)
 Citrullus vulgaris (Water melon)

7) Decorative Items
The fruits of some species such as
of Benincasa and Lagenaria possess hard pericarp which
is useful for making musical instruments and decoration items .

Figure 17 (Benincasa )

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 References

 Khalid Hussain, Khalid Nawaz and Feng Lin, 2010, basics of plant systematics, VDM Verlag Dr.
Muller, Volume 1, 94-95 (1)
 S Rehm, PR Enslin, ADJ Meeuse, JH Wessels, Journal of the science of food and agriculture, 8
(12), 679-686, 1957
 H Schaefer, SS Renner, Flowering plants, eudicots, 112-174, 2010
 Yashasvi B, Cucurbitaceae: Characters distribution and types, 34-39, 2012
 Kate G Barber, Botanical Gazette, 47 (4) , 263-310, 1909

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