How to differentiate important species of Cucurbita?

Gurcharan Singh

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7 Oct 2011, 1:49:40 pm07/10/11

to efloraofindia

There are hundreds of cultivars of Cucurbita and species are often difficult to identify. I am uploading few to show the differences. The species can be identified by the structure of the tip of pedicel where it is attached to the base on fruit.

1. Cucurbita maxima....it is soft and not expanded at tip

2. Cucurbita moschata..it is expanded angular pad, with a small constriction between pad and fruit.

3. Cucurbita pepo: it is expanded with extended fingers firmly attached to fruit.

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

Cucurbita-moschata-butternut squash-California-3.jpg

Cucurbita-moschata-Butternut squash-Califorrnia-5.jpg

Cucurbita-pepo-Pumpkin-California-1.jpg

Cucurbita-pepo-Zucchini-California-1.jpg

Cucurbita-maxima-Cinderella pumpkin-California-1.jpg

Cucurbita-maxima-Kabocha squash-California-1.jpg

Nidhan Singh

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7 Oct 2011, 8:14:52 pm07/10/11

to Gurcharan Singh, efloraofindia

Thanks a lot sir for such an easy to follow differentiation, really superb.
--
Regards,

Dr. Nidhan Singh
Department of Botany
I.B. (PG) College
Panipat-132103 Haryana
Ph.: 09416371227

Balkar Singh

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7 Oct 2011, 9:04:55 pm07/10/11

to Nidhan Singh, Gurcharan Singh, efloraofindia

Thanks for Key and Pics Sir

--
Regards

Dr Balkar Singh
Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology
Arya P G College, Panipat
Haryana-132103
09416262964

Ritesh

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7 Oct 2011, 9:28:01 pm07/10/11

to indian...@googlegroups.com

Thanks for this informative post sir!

Photos are also very beautiful.

Regards,
Ritesh.

Ushadi micromini

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7 Oct 2011, 10:40:26 pm07/10/11

to efloraofindia, Gurcharan Singh

Gurcharanji:
thank you for this nice quick lesson...

this is a sign of a great teacher who has learned digested the
knowledge and refined / distilled it to the essentials...

My hat s off to you...
Usha di

==========
PS CONFUSION about "pumpkins" of the world is due to the extensive
range of physical forms of the pumpkin and many other things are also
called pumpkin...
I share this one link about just the cucurbita maxima.... nearly 50+
forms of one name:
http://www.pumpkinpatch.se/photos_cucurbita_maxima.htm

enjoy
========now with some clarity thanks to Gurcharanji
============ Ud...==============

Gurcharan Singh

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7 Oct 2011, 10:41:44 pm07/10/11

to Ushadi micromini, efloraofindia

Thanks Ushadi for these kind words

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

prasad dash

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8 Oct 2011, 2:05:29 am08/10/11

to Gurcharan Singh, Ushadi micromini, efloraofindia

Dear Gurucharansir this is very informative and educative. Thanks for sharing

Regards

Prasad

--
Prasad Kumar Dash
Ecologist, Orissa, India
email: prasad....@gmail.com
ph. 09437444241

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