Cucurbita Maxima Duchesne

Facts

Winter squash is a widespread crop plant that occasionally escapes into the wild. This annual vine originated in South America, where it was first cultivated, and quickly spread to other areas of the world. Its fruits are very variable in color, shape, and texture. It is vulnerable to insects, particularly squash bugs, and to certain types of wilt. But the edible fruits (and the flowers, yummy when sauteed) are well worth the effort of growing them.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes

Characteristics

HabitatterrestrialNew England state

• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Vermont

Flower petal coloryellowLeaf typethe leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)Leaf arrangementalternate: there is one leaf per node along the stemLeaf blade edges

• the edge of the leaf blade has lobes, or it has both teeth and lobes
• the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
• the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)

Flower symmetrythere are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)Number of sepals, petals or tepalsthere are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flowerFusion of sepals and petalsthe petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tubeStamen number

• 0
• 3

Fruit type (general)the fruit is fleshy

 

Cucurbita maxima (winter squash): Go Botany (nativeplanttrust.org)