Cucurbita moschata

Cucurbita moschata
Butternut squash, a variety of Cucurbita moschata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Cucurbita
Species:	C. moschata
Binomial name
Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir.
Synonyms
Cucurbita colombiana (Zhit.) Bukasov Cucurbita hippopera Ser. Cucurbita macrocarpa Gasp. Cucurbita meloniformis Carrière Cucurbita pepo var. moschata (Duchesne) Duchesne Gymnopetalum calyculatum Miq. Pepo moschata (Duchesne) Britton

Cucurbita moschata is a species originating in either Central America or northern South America. It includes cultivars of squash and pumpkin. C. moschata cultivars are generally more tolerant of hot, humid weather than cultivars of C. maxima or C. pepo. They also generally display a greater resistance to disease and insects, especially to the squash vine borer. Commercially made pumpkin pie mix is most often made from varieties of C. moschata. The ancestral species of the genus Cucurbita were present in the Americas before the arrival of humans. Evolutionarily speaking the genus is relatively recent in origin as no species within the genus is genetically isolated from all the other species. C. moschata acts as the genetic bridge within the genus and is closest to the genus' progenitor. Cultivars include:

• 

  'Butternut' type, also "Bell" type. Robinson and Decker-Walters (1997) p. 80: "Three horticultural groupings of C. moschata cultivars are recognized in the commercial trade of North America: (...) Bell. Fruit bell-shaped to almost cylindrical." "The bell squash 'Butternut' is an important winter squash with excellent quality. It was selected for better fruit shape from the heirloom cultivar 'Canada Crookneck' and introduced by the Breck Seed Company in 1936. The elongated neck of the buff-coloured 'Butternut' fruit is generally straight but occasionally curved. The neck is entirely usable because the small seed cavity is confined to the bulbous base of the fruit. 'Waltham Butternut' is similar, but produces a higher proportion of fruits with straight necks. It was obtained by crossing 'New Hampshire Butternut' with an African plant introduction to the USA, and has been a very popular cultivar ever since its commercial introduction in 1970".

• Cucurbita moschata Crookneck group - neck and trombone mature squashes.jpg

  Cucurbita moschata Crookneck type. Similar to 'Butternut' with an elongated neck that twistes during cultivation. Cultives belonging to this group: in USA 'Neck pumpkin' and 'Pennsilvannia Dutch Crookneck' (upper photograph), in Italy and France 'Tromba d' Albenga', 'Tromboncino' (bottom photograph). 'Neck pumpkin' most popular in the Mid-Atlantic states of the United States, particularly in areas with an Amish influence. Also within this group 'Canada Crookneck' from which 'Butternut' was originated.

• 

  Cucurbita moschata Crookneck type (harvested immature). In the photo 'Tromboncino' fruits. Tromboncino - a summer squash, also known as "Zucchetta".

• Cucurbita moschata Long of Naples Squash.jpg

  37 lb 'Long of Naples' squash. Belonging to Crookneck group.

• Cucurbita moschata Long Island Cheese squash.jpg

  A 'Long Island Cheese' Pumpkin - exterior resembles a wheel of cheese in shape, color, and texture. Robinson and Decker-Walters (1997) p. 80: "Three horticultural groupings of Cucurbita moschata cultivars are recognized in the commercial trade of North America: (..) Cheese. Fruit variable, but usually oblate with a buff-coloured rind."

• 

  Cucurbita moschata "Musquée de Provence" or "Moscata di Provenza". Belonging to Cheese group.

• Cucurbita moschata (giraumon 4).jpg

  Giromon - A large, green cultivar, grown primarily in the Antilles. Haitians use it to make the traditional "soupe giromon", in celebration of Haitian Independence on New Year's Day.

• Cucurbita kabocha o kabutiá o tipo Tetsukabuto 2 zapallos cáscara.jpg

  Cucurbita maxima x Cucurbita moschata hybrid F1 "kabocha" type.

Also:

• Cucurbita moschata 'Golden Cushaw'. Similar shape but a different species than the most common Cucurbita argyrosperma "cushaw" type.
• Dickinson field pumpkin - 'Libby's Select' uses the Select Dickinson Pumpkin variety of C. moschata for its canned pumpkins
• Kentucky field pumpkin
• Calabaza - a commonly grown squash in Cuba and Puerto Rico
• Seminole pumpkin - a squash cultivated by the Seminole Indians of Florida
• "Loche", a group of landraces in Peru. A very concentrated and expensive squash used for flavoring.

External links

External identifiers for Cucurbita moschata
Encyclopedia of Life	584408