what are the 5 families squash?

[thegreatgardener]

grawrc could be more specific with your question?

[thegreatgardener]

[OllieC]

She wants to know what the characteristics are for plants belonging to any particular group.

[grawrc]

Yes sort of! Thank you Ollie! TGG I know absolutely nada about squash but have become curious mainly because of the obvious enthusiasm of people on the forum. Jeannine has listed 5 species/ varieties but how would I know what family (?) a particular squash belonged to?e.g.blue hubbard or potimarron or courgettes?

I'm in the dark here !! ::) ::)

All assistance gratefully received!

[thegreatgardener]

grawrc there may be 5 species of squash but there are 100's of varieties that vary in so many ways that can not be easily described here.
If want get a hand on the variety of  squash there are I suggest you either buy or take the following book out of the library.
The Compleat Squash by Amy goldman

[amphibian]

Pepo: Often Bush, leaves and stems prickly. Leaves deeply denticulate with angular lobes. Peduncle of fruits characterised by pronounced divisions (5-8 sometimes more) generally same width right to point of union with fruit. These divisions often extend on to fruit in form of ribs or bands of colouration. Seeds are flat and white and have a groove on one edge, uniform colouration. There are sub-species pepo-pepo, pepo-ovifera, pepo-texana and pepo-oxarkana.

Maxima: Long stems, few bush varieties, large leaves, deeply divided with rounded lobes. Pubescent but not prickly. Peduncle rounded and devoid of ribs. After flowering peduncle thickens and cracks and will normally become thicker than the stem. Seeds have a lose fitting skin. Seeds grooved on one edge and range from white to dark brown.

Moschata: All vine. Leaves non-jagged but have marked angles, again pubescent but nor prickly. Peduncle carries five angles or ribs and it widens at point of union. Seeds grey and heavily grooved.

Agryosperma/Mixta: Long stems, hairy leaves. Ribbed peduncle, flattening at point of union. Seeds long and flat and deeply grooved. Border of seeds often silvery grey.

Ficifolia: Leaves resemble fig leaves with five rounded lobes with deep divisions. Black seeds, long stems, potentially perennial. Fruits when daylight hours are short.



Name a variety and I can probably tell you which species it belongs to.

[Suzanne]

TGG I bought a copy of The Compleat Squash after it was recomended by Jeannine sometime ago. It is a truly lovely book - both from the information and also the photography Grawc I thoroughly recommend it. I bought it on line for £12 including delivery.

[grawrc]

Thank you all for the info. I'll clearly need to get that book and read up on the topic. I'll make loud hints for XMAS!!!! ;D ;D ;D

[Jeannine]

Grawc, I am not sure I understand the question. Do you mean which squash belong to which species?

XX Jeannine

[grawrc]

Aargghhhh! Don't know! ::) ::) ::) :o