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Squash (plant)

Cucurbita
Various sizes, shapes, and colors of Cucurbita
Cucurbita fruits come in an assortment of colors and sizes.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Tribe: Cucurbiteae
Genus: Cucurbita
L.
Synonyms
Summer squash, all varieties, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 69 kJ (16 kcal)
3.4 g
Sugars 2.2 g
Dietary fiber 1.1 g
0.2 g
1.2 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
(1%)
10 μg
(1%)
120 μg
2125 μg
Thiamine (B1)
(4%)
0.048 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
(12%)
0.142 mg
Niacin (B3)
(3%)
0.487 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
(3%)
0.155 mg
Vitamin B6
(17%)
0.218 mg
Folate (B9)
(7%)
29 μg
Vitamin C
(20%)
17 mg
Vitamin K
(3%)
3 μg
Minerals
Iron
(3%)
0.35 mg
Magnesium
(5%)
17 mg
Manganese
(8%)
0.175 mg
Phosphorus
(5%)
38 mg
Potassium
(6%)
262 mg
Zinc
(3%)
0.29 mg
Other constituents
Water 95 g

Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

Cucurbita (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous vines in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, also known as cucurbits, native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five species are grown worldwide for their edible fruit, variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd depending on species, variety, and local parlance, and for their seeds. First cultivated in the Americas before being brought to Europe by returning explorers after their discovery of the New World, plants in the genus Cucurbita are important sources of human food and oil. Other kinds of gourd, also called bottle-gourds, are native to Africa and belong to the genus Lagenaria, which is in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita but in a different tribe. These other gourds are used as utensils or vessels, and their young fruits are eaten much like those of Cucurbita species.

Most Cucurbita species are herbaceous vines that grow several meters in length and have tendrils, but non-vining "bush" cultivars of C. pepo and C. maxima have also been developed. The yellow or orange flowers on a Cucurbita plant are of two types: female and male. The female flowers produce the fruit and the male flowers produce pollen. Many North and Central American species are visited by specialist bee pollinators, but other insects with more general feeding habits, such as honey bees, also visit.

The fruits of the genus Cucurbita are good sources of nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin C, among other nutrients according to species. The plants also contain other , such as cucurbitin, cucurmosin, and cucurbitacin.


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