Cucurbitaceae family(Cucumis sativa)
Cucurbitaceae family
Cucumber is native to South Asia and Arabia. It is a diploid, with 2n=14. Cucumbers are monoecious (below) and are dependent upon insects for pollination. Parthenocarpic fruit production is thus important in commercially-grown greenhouse cucumbers. Production of primarily pistillate or staminate flowers can be manipulated using plant hormones in the production of hybrid cucumber seed. Cucumbers cannot crossbreed with cantaloupes, in contrast to the commonly-held notion among home gardeners. Popular cucumber varieties include Armenian, pickling (above, right), and slicing (above, left) types.
Female (above, left) and male (above, right) cucurbit flowers.