Cucurbiteae Explained

The Cucurbiteae are a tribe of the subfamily Cucurbitoideae, which is part of the flowering plant family Cucurbitaceae (gourds). Species are usually monoecious herbaceous annuals or woody lianas.^[1]

The tribe consists of 13 genera reported,^[2] but a 2011 study based on genetics reported 11. Members of the genus Cucurbita produce economically valuable fruits, namely squashes and pumpkins.

Genera

The genera are:

• Abobra  - cranberry gourd
• Calycophysum
• Cayaponia, the largest of these genera
• Cionosicys
• Cucurbita  - squashes and pumpkins
• Penelopeia (synonym Anacaona)
• Peponopsis
• Polyclathra
• Schizocarpum
• Selysia
• Sicana  - cassabananas
• Tecunumania

Notes and References

1. Schaefer . Hanno . Renner . Susanne S. . February 2011 . Phylogenetic Relationships in the Order Cucurbitales and a New Classification of the Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae) . Taxon . 60 . 1 . 122–138 . 10.1002/tax.601011 . 2 May 2011.
2. Grayum . Michael H. . December 2009 . Two New Trifoliolate-Leaved Species of Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbiteae) from Central and South America . . 19 . 4 . 465–474 . 27765198 . 10.3417/2007164. 85882479 .