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[[en: Cucurbita]]
Cucurbita (Latin for gourd)[2] is a genus in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae native to and originally cultivated in the Andes and Mesoamerica. The Cucurbita genus is an important source of human food and is used for other purposes such as beverages, medicine, oil, and detergent. Some Cucurbita species were brought to Europe after the discovery of America and are now used in many parts of the world. The plants, referred to as squash, pumpkin or gourd depending on species, variety and local parlance, are grown for their edible fruits and seeds. Real (bottle-)gourds, used as utensils or vessels, belong to the genus Lagenaria and are native to Africa. Lagenaria are in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but different tribes.
There are five domesticated species: Cucurbita argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. C. pepo includes varieties of both winter squash and summer squash, and C. moschata can be used as winter squash because the full-grown fruits can be stored for months. There is no universal agreement on how to handle the taxonomic treatment of the genus, with the number of species being listed varying from 13–30. There is uncertainty as to the ancestors of some species.
Most Cucurbita species are vines, grow several meters in length, have yellow or orange flowers, and may have tendrils. Non-vining cultivars of C. pepo have been developed. There are two types of flowers on a plant, the female flowers that produce the fruit, and the male flowers that produce pollen. Many North and Central American species are visited by specialist pollinators in the apid group, but other insects including honey bees also visit.
The Cucurbita genus is an important source of human food and the fruits are good sources of several nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, dietary fiber, niacin, folic acid, and iron. In addition they are free of fat and cholesterol. The plants also contain the toxins cucurmosin and cucurbitacin. Medical uses of the plant include treating skin conditions and improving visual acuity.
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