| | Family guide for fruits and seeds |
Synonyms: Bryoniaceae G. Mey.; Cyclantheraceae Lilja; Nhandirobaceae T. Lestib., nom. illeg.; Zanoniaceae Dumort.
Common name: Cucumber Family.
Number of genera 120. Number of species 735.
Angiosperm. Magnoliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or a seed.
Fruits
Fruit pericarpium; simple; amphisarcum (Agenaria), or pepo (Cucumis sativus L., Spjut Fig. 40A-D & 4 families: Caricaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Musaceae, Passifloraceae), or capsule, or berry, or samara (rarely); pyxidium capsule (Ecballium), or foraminicidal capsule (Schizocarpum), or loculicidal capsule (Momordica); capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum, or with apical operculum (Luffa); capsule 3-operculum(a) per capsule; berry indehiscent; berry without central placental mass; without persistent central column; 1-seeded to many-seeded; 1-seeded (Sicyos, Sechium), or 2-seeded (Raphanocarpum); 6 cm long (shell), or 4 cm long, or 3 cm long; (2–)3(–5)-carpellate; with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; without sterile carpels; in transection terete; apex not beaked; dehiscent, or indehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent regularly, or irregularly (Momordica); actively (Ecbalium), or passively (Luffa); elastically; non-linearly; by porate; and shedding seeds; without replum. Epicarp durable; with armature, or without armature; with spines; without armature glochidiate; smooth, or not smooth; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp present, or absent; fleshy; composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarp present, or absent; not separating from exocarp; thin; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; smooth; without wing; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without grooves; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent, or present; an arillike structure. Arillike structure falling with seed an arillode (Momordica & Trichosanthes scarlet envelope or loose bag encasing seed). Seed larger than minute; 1 to less than 5 mm long to 25 to less than 50 mm long; 2–60 mm long; ovate, or elliptic; in transection flattened, or compressed; not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity without food reserves, or without apparent food reserves, or with food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent, or present (Cyclomorpha); fleshy. Testa present; with markedly different marginal tissue, or without markedly different marginal tissue; marginal tissue testalike; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer, or with fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; loose, or tight; dull; surface smooth, or unsmooth; with pleurogram; surface with depressed features, or discreet raised features, or merged raised features; surface grooved, or pitted; surface granular, or tuberculate, or verrucose; surface rugose; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; without wings, or with wing(s) (Zanonieae); 2-winged; with wings at both ends; with wing(s) fimbriate; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome, or bichrome, or multichrome; brown (all shades), or black, or gray, or white, or yellow; thin, or crustaceous, or membranous, or woody, or coriaceous, or corky, or bony (horny); not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding embryo, or surrounding food reserve. Endosperm development nuclear; trace.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; completely filling testa (no food reserve), or nearly filling testa (trace or scanty food reserve); 1 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; foliate; with spatulate cotyledons, or investing cotyledons; straight; parallel to seed length; with cotyledons abruptly connected to hypocotyl-radicle; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green, or green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; well developed; 0.8–0.9 times length of embryo; 3–6 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; not concealing hypocotyl-radicle, or partially concealing hypocotyl-radicle; not foliaceous; thin, or moderately thick; flat; smooth; with apices entire; with margins separate; basally entire; equal in size; not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle moderately developed; straight; not thickened. Plumule well developed; composed of 2 seed-leaves; bent; terminal between 2 cotyledons.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan. New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Cronquist: "Fruit rarely samaroid". [Cronquist must mean seed]. False aril is the placental tissue.
Weed information
1 or more USA state noxious weeds.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Delaware (DE), Hawaii (HI), Indiana (IN), New Jersey (NJ), Washington (WA).
USA state and territory noxious weeds: -- Bryonia alba L.: USA state noxious weed: WA●. -- Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt: USA state noxious weed: HI●°. -- Cucumis melo var. dudaim (L.) Naudin (=Cucumis melo var. chito (C. Morren) Naudin): USA state noxious weed: AZ●, CA●°. -- Cucumis myriocarpus Naudin: USA state noxious weed: CA●. -- Sicyos angulatus L.: USA state noxious weed: DE●°, IN●, NJ°. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Citrullus lanatus var. caffer (Schrad.) Mansf. = Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai -- Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (L. H. Bailey) Mansf. -- Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai -- Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. = Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai -- Cucumis anguria L. -- Cucumis melo var. chito (C. Morren) Naudin -- Cucumis melo L. -- Cucumis myriocarpus Naudin -- Cucumis sativus L. -- Cucurbita argyrosperma subsp. argyrosperma C. Huber -- Cucurbita foetidissima Kunth -- Cucurbita maxima Duchesne -- Cucumis melo var. dudaim (L.) Naudin = Cucumis melo var. chito (C. Morren) Naudin -- Cucurbita lagenaria L. = Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. -- Cucurbita luffa hort. = Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. -- Cucurbita mixta Pangalo = Cucurbita argyrosperma subsp. argyrosperma C. Huber -- Cucurbita moschata Duchesne -- Cucurbita pepo L. -- Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. -- Lagenaria Ser. spp. -- Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. -- Sicyos angulatus L. -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. -- Bryonia alba L.w -- Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakaia -- Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh. = Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai -- Coccinia cordifolia auct., non Cogn. = Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt -- Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigtw -- Cucumis anguria L. -- Cucumis melo L.a -- Cucumis sativus L.a -- Cucurbita argyrosperma C. Huber -- Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche -- Cucurbita maxima Duchesnea -- Cucurbita mixta Pangalo = Cucurbita argyrosperma C. Huber -- Cucurbita moschata Duchesnea -- Cucurbita pepo L.a -- Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.a -- Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.a -- Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.a -- Momordica charantia L.a -- Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. -- Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. -- Sicana odorifera (Vell.) Naudin -- Sicyos angulatus L.w-- Trichosanthes cucumerina L.-- Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.-- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Abobra Naudin -- Acanthosicyos Welw. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Actinostemma Griff. -- Alsomitra (Blume) M. Roem. -- Ampelosicyos Thouars -- Anacaona Alain -- Apatzingania Dieterle -- Apodanthera Arn. -- Bambekea Cogn. -- Benincasa Savi -- Biswarea Cogn. -- Blastania Kotschy & Peyr. -- Bolbostemma Franquet -- Brandegea Cogn. -- Bryonia L. -- Calycophysum H. Karst. & Triana -- Cayaponia Silva Manso, nom. cons. -- Cephalopentandra Chiov. -- Ceratosanthes Adans. -- Chalema Dieterle -- Cionosicyos Griseb. -- Citrullus Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh., nom. cons. -- Coccinia Wight & Arn. -- Cogniauxia Baill. -- Corallocarpus Welw. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Cremastopus Paul G. Wilson -- Cucumella Chiov. -- Cucumeropsis Naudin -- Cucumis L. -- Cucurbita L., nom. cons. prop. -- Cucurbitella Walp. -- Cyclanthera Schrad. -- Cyclantheropsis Harms -- Dactyliandra (Hook. f.) Hook. f. -- Dendrosicyos Balf. f. -- Dicoelospermum C. B. Clarke -- Dieterlea E. J. Lott -- Diplocyclos (Endl.) Post & Kuntze -- Doyerea Grosourdy -- Ecballium A. Rich., nom. cons. -- Echinocystis Torr. & A. Gray, nom. cons. -- Echinopepon Naudin -- Edgaria C. B. Clarke -- Elateriopsis Ernst -- Eureiandra Hook. f. -- Fevillea L. -- Gerrardanthus Harv. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Gomphogyne Griff. -- Gurania (Schltdl.) Cogn. -- Guraniopsis Cogn. -- Gymnopetalum Arn. -- Gynostemma Blume -- Halosicyos Mart. Crov. -- Hanburia Seem. -- Helmontia Cogn. -- Hemsleya Cogn. ex F. B. Forbes & Hemsl. -- Herpetospermum Wall. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Hodgsonia Hook. f. & Thomson -- Ibervillea Greene -- Indofevillea Chatterjee -- Kedrostis Medik. -- Lagenaria Ser. -- Lemurosicyos Keraudren -- Luffa Mill. -- Marah Kellogg -- Melancium Naudin -- Melothria L. -- Melothrianthus Mart. Crov. -- Microsechium Naudin -- Momordica L. -- Muellerargia Cogn. -- Mukia Arn. -- Myrmecosicyos C. Jeffrey -- Neoalsomitra Hutch. -- Nothoalsomitra I. Telford -- Odosicyos Keraudren -- Oreosyce Hook. f. -- Parasicyos Dieterle -- Penelopeia Urb. -- Peponium Engl. -- Peponopsis Naudin -- Polyclathra Bertol. -- Posadaea Cogn. -- Praecitrullus Pangalo -- Pseudocyclanthera Mart. Crov. -- Pseudosicydium Harms -- Psiguria Neck. ex Arn. -- Pteropepon (Cogn.) Cogn. -- Raphidiocystis Hook. f. -- Ruthalicia C. Jeffrey -- Rytidostylis Hook. f. & Arn. -- Schizocarpum Schrad. -- Schizopepon Maxim. -- Sechiopsis Naudin -- Sechium P. Browne, nom. cons. -- Selysia Cogn. -- Seyrigia Keraudren -- Sicana Naudin -- Sicydium Schltdl. -- Sicyos L. -- Sicyosperma A. Gray -- Siolmatra Baill. -- Siraitia Merr. -- Solena Lour. -- Tecunumania Standl. & Steyerm. -- Telfairia Hook. -- Thladiantha Bunge -- Trichosanthes L. -- Tricyclandra Keraudren -- Trochomeria Hook. f. -- Trochomeriopsis Cogn. -- Tumamoca Rose -- Vaseyanthus Cogn. -- Wilbrandia J. Silva Manso -- Xerosicyos Humbert -- Zanonia L. -- Zehneria Endl. -- Zombitsia Keraudren -- Zygosicyos Humbert --
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 422. Chakravarty, H.L. & D.K. Hore. 1979. Role of seed structure in cucurbit classification. Indian J. Forest. 2:323–329; Keraudren, M. 1967. Cucurbitacées. In: A. Aubréville, ed., Flore du Cameroun, vol. 6. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
General references
Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Engler, A. and K. Prantl. 1924 and onward. Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilimien. W. Engelman, Leipzig, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R. and J.V. Dennis. 1976. World guide to tropical drift seeds and fruits, 240 pp. The New York Times Book Co., New York, Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182, Wood, C.E., Jr. 1974. A student's atlas of flowering plants: Some dicotyledons of eastern North America, 120 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Illustrations
Acceptable fruit and seed illustrations. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or seed, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): Engler & Prantl, Cronquist, Wood, Jr. Seed illustration(s): Engler & Prantl, Aubre'ville, Corner, Wood, Jr., Gunn & Dennis, Gunn & Ritchie. Embryo illustration(s): Corner, Wood, Jr., Engler & Prantl, Gunn & Ritchie.
• Seed. 1 of 19. Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.: seeds. • Seed. 2 of 19. Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai: seeds. • Seed. 3 of 19. Coccinia eglandulosa (Hook. F.): seeds. • Seed. 4 of 19. Cucumis melo L.: seeds. • Seed. 5 of 19. Cucurbita argyrosperma C. Huber subsp. argyrosperma: seed. • Seed. 6 of 19. Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad.: seed. • Fruit. 7 of 19. Cyclantheropsis parviflora (Cogn.) Harms: fruit. • Seed. 8 of 19. Cyclantheropsis parviflora (Cogn.) Harms: seeds. • Seed. 9 of 19. Lagenaria sphaerica (Sond.) Naudin: seeds. • Seed. 10 of 19. Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.: seed. • Seed. 11 of 19. Momordica charantia L.: seed. • Fruit. 12 of 19. Sechiopsis triquetra (Moc. & Sessé ex Ser.) Naudin: fruit. • Seed. 13 of 19. Sechiopsis triquetra (Moc. & Sessé ex Ser.) Naudin: dehisced fruit with calyx. • Seed. 14 of 19. Sicana odorifera (Vell.) Naudin: seeds. • Seed. 15 of 19. Trichosanthes subvelutina F. Muell. ex Cogn.: seeds. • Embryo. 16 of 19. Cucumis myriocarpus Naudin: embryo. • Embryo. 17 of 19. Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich.: embryo. • Embryo. 18 of 19. Luffa aegyptica Mill.: embryo. • Embryo. 19 of 19. Momordica cymbalaria Hook. f.: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
