Cucurbitaceae – Cucurbita maxima (Kadu), Cucurbita Lower Classifications
The family comprises of 100 genera and 850 species distributed mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Most members are cultivated for their edible fruits. The common are: Cucurbita maxima (Kadu), Luffa cylindrica (Ghia tori), Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), Citrullus vulgaris (Water melon) and momordica charantia (Karela).

Cucurbita Lower Classification – Cucurbita maxima
Distinguish Features of Cucurbita maxima
Herbs with weak stems tendril climber, simple leaves of palmate type, flower unisexual, epigynous, calyx 5 united, corolla 5 to many, stamen 5, tricapillary, syncarpous, unilocular, inferior ovary.
Cucurbita maxima (kadu)
Habit: A tendril climbing herb cultivated for its edible fruit used as vegetable. The plant is monoecious bearing unisexual male and female flowers.
Stem: Weak, hairy, herbaceous, juicy.
Leaf: Cauline and ramal, alternate, exstipulate, petiolate (petioles long), simple, reticulate, multicostate, leaf lamina palmately lobed (4 – 7 lobes).

Cucurbita maxima Leaf
Inflorescence: Cymose solitary axillary.
Flowers of Cucurbita maxima
Both Male and Female Flowers are as Follow:
Male Flower (Staminate Flower)
Bracteate, pedicellate, incomplete, actinomorphic, unisexual, pentamerous, staminate.
Calyx: Five sepals, gamosepalous, campanulate, superior.
Corolla: Five petals, polypetalous, campanulate, superior.
Androecium: Five stamens, four united in pairs and one free, sigmoid, superior.
Gynoecium: The gynoecium is absent.
Floral Formula: K(5) C(5) A1+(2)+(2) G_-0.
Female Flower (Pistillate Flower)
Pedicellate, incomplete, actinomorphic, epigynous, unisexual pistillate, pentamerous.
Calyx: Five sepals, gamosepalous, campanulate, superior.
Corolla: Five petals, gamopetalous, campanulate, superior.
Androecium: The androecium is absent.
Gynoecium: Tricarpellary, syncarpous, ovary inferior, and unilocular with many ovules, placentation parietal, style cylindric, stigma trilobed.
Floral Formula: K(5) C(5) A(0) G(3).
Floral Diagram of Cucurbita maxima
The floral diagram of Cucurbita maxima is as given below. The diagram is showing a male flower twig. along with female flower twig. At the left side is the L.S of Male flower and below it is the female L.S. Below as you see is the Floral pattern of Cucurbita, how the the petals sepals are arranged.
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Cucurbita maxima (kadu) Floral Diagram