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Cucumis sativus

Cucumber
ARS cucumber.jpg
Cucumbers growing on vines
Cucumber BNC.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cucumis
Species: C. sativus
Binomial name
Cucumis sativus
L.
Genomic information
NCBI genome ID 1639
Ploidy diploid
Genome size 323.99 Mb
Sequenced organelle mitochondrion
Organelle size 244.82 Mb
Year of completion 2011
Cucumber, with peel, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 65 kJ (16 kcal)
3.63 g
Sugars 1.67
Dietary fiber 0.5 g
0.11 g
0.65 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1)
(2%)
0.027 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
(3%)
0.033 mg
Niacin (B3)
(1%)
0.098 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
(5%)
0.259 mg
Vitamin B6
(3%)
0.04 mg
Folate (B9)
(2%)
7 μg
Vitamin C
(3%)
2.8 mg
Vitamin K
(16%)
16.4 μg
Minerals
Calcium
(2%)
16 mg
Iron
(2%)
0.28 mg
Magnesium
(4%)
13 mg
Manganese
(4%)
0.079 mg
Phosphorus
(3%)
24 mg
Potassium
(3%)
147 mg
Sodium
(0%)
2 mg
Zinc
(2%)
0.2 mg
Other constituents
Water 95.23 g
Fluoride 1.3 µg

Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears fruits that are used as vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and seedless. Within these varieties, several cultivars have been created. In North America, the term "wild cucumber" refers to plants in the genera Echinocystis and Marah, but these are not closely related. The cucumber is originally from South Asia, but now grows on most continents. Many different types of cucumber are traded on the global market.

The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around supports with thin, spiraling tendrils. The plant may also root in a soilless medium and will sprawl along the ground if it does not have supports. The vine has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruits. The fruit of typical cultivars of cucumber is roughly cylindrical, but elongated with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 centimeters (24 in) long and 10 centimeters (3.9 in) in diameter. Botanically speaking, the cucumber is classified as a pepo, a type of botanical berry with a hard outer rind and no internal divisions. Much like tomato and squash, it is often perceived, prepared and eaten as a vegetable. Cucumber fruits are usually more than 90% water.

A few cultivars of cucumber are parthenocarpic, the blossoms creating seedless fruit without pollination. Pollination for these cultivars degrades the quality. In the United States, these are usually grown in greenhouses, where bees are excluded. In Europe, they are grown outdoors in some regions, and bees are excluded from these areas.


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