1.1.2- The Family Cucurbitaceae The Family Cucurbitaceae (also called gour family) consist of approximately 125 genera and 960 species, mainly in regions tropical and subtropical. All species are sensitive to frost. Most of the plants in this family are annualvines but there are also woody lianas, thorny shrubs, and trees (Dendrosicyos). Many species have large, yellow or white flowers. The stems are hairy and pentangular. Tendrils are present at 90° to the leaf petioles at nodes. Leaves are exstipulate alternate simple palmately lobed or palmately compound. The flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers on different plants (dioecious) or on the same plant (monoecious). The female flowers have inferior ovaries. The fruit is often a kind of modified berry called a pepo. The Cucurbitaceae are a plantfamily, sometimes called the gourd family, consisting of over a hundred genera, the most important families of which are: Benincasa : Winter melon or Wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) Citrullus : watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and others Cucumis: cucumber (Cucumis sativus), various melons Cucurbita : squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds Lagenaria: mostly non-edible gourds Luffa: common name also luffa Momordica : Bitter gourd, bitter melon The plants in this family are grown around the tropics and in temperate areas, where those with edible fruits were among the earliest cultivated plants both in the Old and New World. The Cucurbitaceae family ranks among the highest of plant families for number and percentage of species used as human food.
Fruits of Family Cucurbitaceae
2- The Major Genera of Family Cucurbitaceae Used as Vegetables
2.1-Genus Benincasa (Vietnamese:
Chi Bi dao) 2.1.1- Introduction This is the
smallest Genus of Family Cucurbitaceae. It has only one species Benincasa hispidaThunb. Plants and fruits of this species are called Wax gour
or Winter melon and more other names. 2.1.2- Species
of Genus Benincasa There is only
one species in this Genus: Benincasa hispidaThunb. The common names of fruits of this species are: winter melon or
also calledwhite gourd, winter
Chinese preserving melon,orash gourd. Vietnamese names are: Bi dao (Bí đao),
Bi trang (Bí trắng) or Bi phan (Bí phấn). Winter melon is also acommon namefor members of the Inodoruscultivar groupof themuskmelon(Cucumis meloL), more commonly known ascasaba orhoneydewmelons. 2.1.3- Fruits from Genus Benincasa Winter melon (Benincasa hispida)
is the only member of the genusBenincasa.
The mature winter melon is a culinary vegetable that is widely used inAsia andIndia. The immature melons are used as a
culinary fruit (e.g., to make a distinctive fruit drink). The winter melon is a vine grown
for its very large fruit, eaten as a vegetable when mature. The fruit is fuzzy when
young. The immature melon has thick white flesh that is sweet when eaten. By
maturity, the fruit loses its hairs and develops a waxy coating,
giving rise to the name wax
gourd, and providing a long shelf life. The Winter
melon fruits may grow as large as 80 cm in length. Although the fruit is
referred to as a "melon" the fully grown crop is not sweet.
Originally cultivated in Southeast Asia, the
winter melon is now widely grown in East Asia and South Asia as well.
2.2- The Genus Citrullus (Vietnamese : Chi Dua hau) 2.2.1- Introduction The
Genus Citrullusis a small genus of desertvines, among which Citrullus lanatus (the watermelon) is an
important crop. 2.2.2- Species
of the Genus Citrullus There are two species of Genus Citrullusare
known: - Species Egusi (Citrullus
lanatus) – Wild melon. - Species Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) –
Watermelon. 2.2.3- Fruits from the Genus Citrullus a-Wild melon or Egusi (Citrullus lanatus) is similar in appearance to the
watermelon. The flesh is inedible, but the seeds are a valuable food source in Africa. Other species that have the same
culinary role, and that are also called egusi
include Cucumeropsis mannii and Lagenaria siceraria. b- Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus or Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus, family Cucurbitaceae) originated in Africa, where evidence indicates that it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. It is a popular summer fruit in all parts of the world. Watermelon is a vine-like (scrambler and trailer) flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy center (mesocarp and endocarp). Pepos are derived from an inferior ovary, and are characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon - although not in the genus Cucumis - has a smooth exterior rind (usually green with dark green stripes or yellow spots) and a juicy, sweet interior flesh (usually deep red to pink, but sometimes orange, yellow, or white). Today, farmers in approximately 44 states in the US grow watermelon commercially, and almost all these varieties have some 'Charleston Gray' in their lineage. Georgia, Florida, Texas, California and Arizona are the US's largest watermelon producers. This now-common watermelon is often large enough that groceries often sell half or quarter melons. Some smaller, spherical varieties of watermelon, both red- and yellow-fleshed, are sometimes called "icebox melons". On the World there are more than 1200 cultivars of watermelon range in weight from less than one to more than 90 kilograms (200 lb); the flesh can be red, orange, yellow or white.
2.3- The Genus Cucumis (Vietnamese: Chi Dua) 2.3.1- Introduction Cucumis is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the Cucurbitaceaefamily which includes the cucumber (Cucumis sativus), true melons, the horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), and the West Indian gherkin (Cucumis anguria). There are 30 species occur in Africa, and 25 occur in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. 2.3.2- Synonyms CucumellaChiov. Dicaelosperma E.G.O.Müll. & Pax, orth. var. DicaelospermumC.B.Clarke, orth. var. DicoelospermumC.B.Clarke HymenosicyosChiov. MeloMill. MukiaArn. Myrmecosicyos C.Jeffrey OreosyceHook.f. 2.3.3- Selected Species Cucumis anguria– Gooseberry gourd, Bur cucumber Cucumis dipsaceus Cucumis ficifolius Cucumis humifructus - Aardvark cucumber Cucumis melo - Melon, Muskmelon Cucumis metuliferus - Horned melon Cucumis myriocarpus Cucumis prophetarum Cucumis sativus - Cucumber 2.3.4- The major fruits from the Genus Cucumis (1)- SpeicesCucumis anguria, commonly known as bur cucumber, bur gherkin, cackrey, gooseberry gourd, maroon cucumber, West Indian gherkin and West Indian gourd, is a vine that is indigenous to Africa, but has become naturalized in the New World, and is cultivated in many places. It is similar and related to the common cucumber (C. sativus) and its cultivars are known as gherkins. (2)- SpeciesCucumis humofructus (Aardvark cucumber), also known as aardvark pumpkin, is a kind of cucumber from southern Africa, tropical Africa, and Madagascar which fruits underground. It is reliant on the aardvark to eat the fruit in order to spread and re-bury the seeds of the plant. (3)- SpeciesCucumis melo (Muskmelon) is a species of melon that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. These include smooth skinned varieties such as honeydew, crenshaw and casaba, and different netted cultivars (cantaloupe, Persian melon and Santa Claus or Christmas melon). The Armenian cucumber is also a variety of muskmelon, but its shape, taste, and culinary uses more closely resemble those of a cucumber. The large number of cultivars in this species approaches that found in wild cabbage, though morphological variation is not as extensive. It is a fruit of a type called pepo. Muskmelon is native to Persia (Iran), Anatolia, Armenia, and adjacent areas on the west and the east which is believed to be their center of origin and development, with a secondary center including the northwest provinces of India and Afghanistan. Although truly wild forms of C. melo have not been found, several related wild species have been noted in those regions. Main cultivars of Species Muskmelon (Cucumis melo): Melons in genus Cucumis are culinary fruits, and include the majority of culinary melons. All but a handful of culinary melon varieties belong to the species Cucumis melo L. +Cucumis melo cantalupensis, with skin that is rough and warty, not netted. - The Europeancantaloupe, with lightly ribbed, pale green skin, was domesticated in the 18th century, in Cantalupo in Sabina, Italy, by the pope's gardener. Varieties include the French Charentais and the Burpee Seeds hybrid Netted Gem, introduced in the 19th century. The Yubari King is a highly prized Japanese cantaloupecultivar. - The Persian melon resemble a large cantaloupe with a darker green rind and a finer netting. + Cucumis melo inodorus, casabas, honeydew, and Asian melons - Korean melon, a yellow melon with white lines running across the fruit and white inside. Can be crisp and slightly sweet or juicy when left to ripen longer. - Canary melon, a large, bright-yellow melon with a pale green to white inner flesh. - Casaba, bright yellow, with a smooth, furrowed skin. Less flavorful than other melons, but keeps longer. - Hami melon, originally from Hami, Xinjian, China. Flesh is sweet and crisp. - Honeydew, with a sweet, juicy, green-colored flesh. Grown as bailan melon in Lanzhou, China. There is a second variety which has yellow skin, white flesh & tastes like a moist pear. - Kolkhoznitsa melon, with smooth, yellow skin and dense, white flesh. - Piel de Sapo (toad skin) or Santa Claus melon, with a blotchy green skin and white sweet-tasting flesh. - Sugar melon a smooth, white, round fruit. - Tiger melon, an orange, yellow and black striped melon from Turkey with a soft pulp. - Japanese melons (including the Sprite melon). + Cucumis melo reticulatus, true muskmelons, with netted (reticulated) skin. - North American cantaloupe, distinct from the European cantaloupe, with the net-like skin pattern common to otherC. melo reticulatus varieties. - Galia (or Ogen), small and very juicy with either faint green or rosy pink flesh. - Sharlyn melons, with taste between honeydew and cantaloupes, netted skin, greenish-orange rind, and white flesh. - Modern crossbred varieties, e.g. Crenshaw (Casaba × Persian), Crane (Japanese × N.A. cantaloupe). (4)- SpeciesCucumis metuliferus (Horned melon or Kiwano) also called African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, melano, in the southeastern United States, blowfish fruit, is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family (Cucurbitaceae). Its fruit has horn-like spines, hence the name "horned melon". Ripe fruit has yellow-orange skin and lime green, jelly-like flesh with a tart taste, and texture similar to a cucumber. C. metuliferus is native to Africa, and is now grown in California, Mississippi, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. Horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), a traditional food plant in Africa with distinctive spikes. Now grown in California, Chile, Australia and New Zealand as well. Cucumis metuliferus is a traditional food plant in Africa, and has potential to improve nutrition and food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land use. Along with the Gemsbok cucumber (Acanthosicyos naudinianus), it is the only source of water during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert. In Zimbabwe it is called gaka or gakachika, and is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration. It is eaten at any stage of ripening. The fruit's taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber and zucchini or a combination of banana, cucumber and lemon. It is also said to taste like an unripe, watered-down banana. A small amount of salt or sugar can increase the flavor. Some also eat the peel, which is very rich in vitamin Cand dietary fiber. The fruit can be used in cooking, but when eaten raw, most suck out the pulp and spit out the seeds. Despite the fruit's colorful appearance, it has not found any significant uses inWestern cuisine, and has been called "astringent", and the prices. (5)- Species Cucumis myriocarpus (Paddy melon or Prickly paddy melon) is a prostrate or climbing annual herb native to tropical and southern Africa. It has small, round, yellow-green or green-striped fruit with soft spines, small yellow flowers and deeply lobed, light green leaves. The melon occurs in disturbed soil and cleared or bare areas, and thrives on summer moisture. The fruit and foliage are toxic due to the presence of cucurbitacin. The plant is potentially toxic to horses, sheep, cattle and pigs and has been associated with stock deaths. It has been used by humans as an emetic. There are records of poisoning occurring in humans. The melon is a weed in Australia and in California, where it may also be known as prickly paddy melon, bitter apple, gooseberry gourd and gooseberry cucumber. (6)- Species Cucumis sativus(Cucumber) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless. Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged. The cucumber is originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents. Many different varieties are traded on the global market.
2.4-Genus Cucurbita (Vietnamese: Chi Bi ngo) 2.4.1- Introduction Genus Cucurbita (Latin for gourd) is a genus in the gourd familyCucurbitaceae native to and originally cultivated in the Andes and Mesoamerica. The Cucurbita genus is an important source of human food and is used for other purposes such as beverages, medicine, oil, and detergent. Some Cucurbita species were brought to Europe after the discovery of America and are now used in many parts of the world. The plants, referred to as squash, pumpkin or gourd depending on species, variety and local parlance, are grown for their edible fruits and seeds. Real (bottle-) gourds, used as utensils or vessels, belong to the genus Lagenaria and are native to Africa. Lagenaria are in the same family and subfamily as Cucurbita, but different tribes. There are five domesticated species: Cucurbita argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. C. pepo includes varieties of both winter squash and summer squash, and C. moschata can be used as winter squash because the full-grown fruits can be stored for months. There is no universal agreement on how to handle the taxonomic treatment of the genus, with the number of species being listed varying from 13-30. There is uncertainty as to the ancestors of some species. Most Cucurbita species are vines, grow several meters in length, have yellow or orange flowers, and may have tendrils. Non-vining cultivars of C. pepo have been developed. There are two types of flowers on a plant, the female flowers that produce the fruit, and the male flowers that produce pollen. Many North and Central American species are visited by specialist pollinators in the apid group, but other insects including honey bees also visit. The Cucurbita genus is an important source of human food and the fruits are good sources of several nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, dietary fiber, niacin, folic acid, and iron. In addition they are free of fat and cholesterol. The plants also contain the toxins cucurmosin and cucurbitacin. Medical uses of the plant include treating skin conditions and improving visual acuity. 2.4.2-The species in the Genus Cucurbita Cucurbita was formally described in 1753 in Linnaeus's Species Plantarum, which established modern botanical nomenclature. Cucurbita pepo is the type species of the genus. The five domesticated species are mostly isolated from each other by sterility barriers and have different physiological characteristics. Some cross pollinations can occur: C. pepo with C. argyrosperma and C. moschata; and C. maxima with C. moschata. Cross pollination does occur readily within the family Cucurbitaceae. The buffalo gourd (C. foetidissima), which does not taste good, has been used as an intermediary as it can cross breed with all the common Cucurbita. Various taxonomic treatments have been proposed for Cucurbita, ranging from 13-30 species. In 1968 and 1970, the taxonomy by Nee closely matches the species groupings reported in a pair of studies by a botanical team led by Rhodes and Bemis based on statistical groupings of several phenotypic traits of 21 species in five clusters. In 1990, Michael Nee classified them into the following 13 species groups (27 species total), listed by group and alphabetically, with geographic origin: Group1 (4 Species): - Cucurbita argyrosperma (synonymC. mixta) - pipian, cushaw pumpkin; origin-Panama, Mexico. - Cucurbita kellyana, origin-Pacific coast of western Mexico. - C. palmeri, origin-Pacific coast of northwestern Mexico. - C. sororia, origin-Pacific coast Mexico to Nicaragua, northeastern Mexico. Group 2 (5 Species): - Cucurbita digitata - fingerleaf gourd; origin-southwestern USA, northwestern Mexico - Cucurbita californica - Cucurbita cordata - Cucurbita cylindrata - Cucurbita palmata Group 3 (1 Species): - Cucurbita ecuadorensis, origin-Ecuador's Pacific coast. Group 4 (1 Species): - Cucurbita ficifolia - figleaf gourd, chilacayote; origin-Mexico, Panama, northern Chile and Argentina. Group 5 (2 Species): - Cucurbita foetidissima - stinking gourd, buffalo gourd; origin-Mexico. - Cucurbita scabridifolia, likely a natural hybrid of C. foetidissima and C. pedatifolia. Group 6 (1 Species): - Cucurbita galeottii is little known; origin-Oaxaca, Mexico. Group 7 (1 Species): - Cucurbita lundelliana, origin-Mexico, Guatemala, Belize. Group 8 (2 Species): - Cucurbita maxima - winter squash, pumpkin; origin-Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador. - Cucurbita andreana, origin-Argentina. Group 9 (1 Species): - Cucurbita moschata - butternut squash, 'Dickinson' pumpkin, golden cushaw; origin-Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela. Group 10 (2 Species): - Cucurbita okeechobeensis, origin-Florida - Cucurbita martinezii, origin-Mexican Gulf Coast and foothills. Group 11 (2 Species): - Cucurbita pedatifolia, origin-Querétaro, Mexico - Cucurbita moorei Group 12 (3 Species): - Cucurbita pepo - field pumpkin, summer squash, zucchini, vegetable marrow, courgette, acorn squash; origin-Mexico, USA - Cucurbita fraterna, origin-Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, Mexico - Cucurbita texana, origin-Texas, USA. Group 13 (2 Species): - C. radicans - calabacilla, calabaza de coyote; origin-Central Mexico -C. gracilior 2.4.3- The Major species from Genus Cucurbita used as fruit vegetables - Species Cucurbita argryrosperma (Cushaw Pumpkin) Cucurbita argyrosperma, also the Japanese pie pumpkin or pipian or cushaw pumpkin, is a species of winter squash originally from the south of Mexico. The sannualherbaceous plant is cultivated in the Americas for its nutritional value: its flowers, shoots, and fruits are all harvested, but it is cultivated most of all for its seeds, which are used for sauces. It was formerly known as Cucurbita mixta. It is a Cucurbita species, with pumpkin varieties that are commonly cultivated in the United States as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex and Mexico south to Nicaragua. Of all the cultivated Cucurbita species, it is found outside of the Americas the least. It originated in Mesoamerica and its wild ancestor is Cucurbita sororia. It is also closely related to Cucurbita kellyana and Cucurbita palmeri. - SpeciesCucurbita ficifolia (Asian Pumpkin) Cucurbita ficifolia (Asian Pumpkin), also known as the seven year melon, is a type of squash grown for its edible seeds, fruit, and greens. Although it is closely related to other squashes in its genus, it shows considerable biochemical difference from them and does not hybridize readily with them. Common names in English of this species are: Siam pumpkin, Thai marrow, Thin Vermicelli pumpkin, Asian pumpkin, Fig-leaf gourd (also fig-leafed or fig-leaved gourd), Pie melon (in Australia and New Zealand), Malabar gourd or squash, Shark's-fin gourd or melon. - Species Cucurbita maxima Cucurbita maxima, one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species, perhaps with more cultivated forms than any other crop. This species originated in South America from the wild C. maxima ssp. andreana over 4000 years ago. The two species hybridize quite readily but have noticeably different calcium levels. Different squash types of this species were introduced into North America as early as the 16th century. By the American Revolution, the species was in cultivation by Native American tribes throughout the present-day United States. By the early 19th century, at least three varieties are known to have been commercially introduced in North America from seeds obtained from Native Americans. Secondary centers of diversity include India, Bangladesh, Burma, and possibly the southern Appalachians. The large red-orange squashes often seen at Halloween in the United States are C. maxima, but not to be confused with the orange type used for jack-o-lanterns, which are C. pepo. - Species Cucurbita moschata Cucurbita moschata (with numerous cultivars), is a species originating in either Central America or northern South America. It includes cultivars of squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds. 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. moschataacts as the genetic bridge within the genus and is closest to the genus' progenitor. - Species Cucurbita pepo (Summer squash) Cucurbita pepo is a cultivated plant of the genus Cucurbita. It yields varieties of winter squash and pumpkin, but the most widespread varieties belong to Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo, called summer squash. It has been domesticated in the New World for thousands of years. The Zuni people have several uses for this plant. Some authors maintain that Cucurbita pepo is derived from Cucurbita texana, while others suggest that C. texana is merely feralC. pepo. They have a wide variety of uses, especially as a food source and for medical conditions. C. pepo seems to more closely related to Cucurbita fraterna though there are disagreements about the exact nature of that connection too. There are eight edible cultivated varieties of C. pepo vary widely in shape and color, and one non-edible cultivated variety: Cultivar group Botanical name Acorn C. pepo var.turbinata Cocozzelle C. pepo var.Ionga Crookneck C. pepo var.torticollia (also torticollis) Pumpkin C. pepo var.pepo Scallop C. pepo var.clypeata; called C. Melopepo by Linnaeus Straightneck C. pepo var.recticollis Vegetable marrow C. pepo var.fastigata Zucchini C. pepo var.cylindrica Ornamental gourds C. pepo var.ovifera
Asian Pumpkin Fruit
2.5- Genus Lagenaria (Vietnamese: Chi Bầu) 2.5.1- Introduction Lagenaria is a genus of gourd-bearing vines from the familyCucurbitaceae, also known as the "Squash" family. It contains at least seven species, one of which is known as the Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria). Its species fruit can either be harvested young and used as a vegetable or harvested mature, dried, and used as a bottle or utensil. 2.5.2- Synonyms AdenopusBenth. SphaerosicyosHook.f. 2.5.3-SelectedSpecies Lagenaria abyssinica Lagenaria breviflora Lagenaria guineensis Lagenaria rufa Lagenaria siceraria Lagenaria sphaerica Lagenaria vulgaris 2.5.4- Major Species of Genus Lagenaria used as fruit vegetables - SpeciesLagenaria abyssinica Lagenaria abyssinica is a species of squash plant. It is a climbing vine. The stem and branches are covered in hair-like spines. It ranges from Africa to Asia. The fruit is used to make bottles and instruments. It is also grown as an ornamental plant. - Species Lagenaria rufa Lagenaria rufa is a squash plant. It is a climbing vine. Its flowers range from white to yellow. The fruit is a gourd, dark green when developing but becomes cream-orange when ripe. It is native to western Africa. - Species Lagenaria siceraria The calabash, Lagenaria siceraria (synonym Lagenaria vulgaris Ser.), also known as opo squash, bottle gourd or long melon, is a vine grown for its fruit, which can either be harvested young and used as a vegetable, or harvested mature, dried, and used as a bottle, utensil, or pipe. The fresh fruit has a light green smooth skin and a white flesh. Rounder varieties are calledcalabash gourds. They come in a variety of shapes: they can be huge and rounded, small and bottle shaped, or slim and serpentine, more than a metre long. The calabash was one of the first cultivated plants in the world, grown not primarily for food, but for use as a water container. The bottle gourd may have been carried from Africa to Asia, Europe and the Americas in the course of human migration, or by seeds floating across the oceans inside the gourd. It has been proven to be in the New World prior to the arrival of Columbus. It shares its common name with that of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete). - Species Lagenaria sphaerica Lagenaria sphaerica is a herbaceous climber in the Cucurbitaceae family. It is commonly known as the Wild Melon. These plants are found in low lying areas from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to east Africa. The may grow along river floodplains or up into the canopy of riparian forests. They may also be found in coastal dune vegetation. These plants produce large white flowers which attract many insects. The melon- gourd is green.
2.6- Genus Luffa (Vietnamese: Chi Mướp) 2.6.1- Introduction Luffa is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines classified in the cucumber (Cucurbitaceae) family. In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah, usually means the fruit of the two species Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula. The fruit of these species is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable. The fruit must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible. The vegetable is popular in China and Vietnam. When the fruit is fully ripened it is very fibrous. The fully developed fruit is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge which is used in bathrooms and kitchens. Luffa are not frost-hardy, and require 150 to 200 warm days to mature. 2.6.2-Synonyms PoppyaNeck. ex M.Roem. TrevauxiaSteud., orth. var. TrevouxiaScop. TuriaForssk. 2.6.3- Etymology The name luffa was borrowed by European botanists in the 17th century from the Egyptian Arabic name lūf. 2.6.4- Selected Species of Genus Luffa The major species of Luffa vegetables on the World are: Luffa acutangula (Angled luffa, ridged luffa, vegetable gourd). Luffa aegyptiaca / Luffa cylindrica (Smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa, dishrag gourd, gourd loofa). Luffa operculata (Wild loofa, sponge cucumber). 2.6.5- Main Species of Genus Luffa used as fruit vegetables - Species Luffa acutangula - Angled luffa, ridged luffa, vegetable gourd. Vietnamese name:Muop khia (Mướp khía). Luffa acutangula is commercially grown for its unripe fruits as a vegetable. Mature fruits are used as natural cleaning sponges. Its fruit slightly resembles a cucumber or zucchini with ridges. It ranges from central and eastern Asia to southeastern Asia. It is also grown as a houseplant in places with colder climates. The other names are called anged luffa, Chinese okra, dish cloth gourd, ridged gourd, sponge gourd, vegetable gourd, strainer vine, ribbed loofah, silky gourd, ridged gourd, silk gourd. - Species Luffa aegyptipica (Synonym: Luffa cylindrica) - Smooth luffa Vietnamese name: Muop huong (Mướp hương). In everyday non-technical usage the name, also spelled loofah, usually refers to the fruit of the two species Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula. The fruit of these species is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable. The fruit must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible. The vegetable is popular in China and Vietnam. When the fruit is fully ripened it is very fibrous. The fully developed fruit is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge which is used in bathrooms and kitchens. Luffa are not frost-hardy, and require 150 to 200 warm days to mature. The name luffa was borrowed by European botanists in the 18th century from the Egyptian Arabic name lūf. Luffa aegyptiaca or Luffa cylindrica with the names Luffa, Smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa, Dishrag gourd, Gourd loofa, Vietnamese luffa, Vietnamese gourd, or Chinese okra are a genus of tropical and subtropical vines classified in the cucumber (Cucurbitaceae) family. The fruit section of L. aegyptiaca may be allowed to mature and used as a bath or kitchen sponge after being processed to remove everything but the network of xylem or fibers. Marketed as luffa or loofah, the sponge is used as a body scrub. In Vietnam, the Vietnamese gourd is called "mướp hương" and is a common ingredient in soups and stir-fried dishes. Its juice is used as a natural remedy for jaundice. The juice is obtained by pounding the bitter luffa and squeezing it through a cloth. Bitter luffa seeds and dry crusts are also available and can be used for the same purpose. - Species Luffa operculata - Wild luffa, Sponge Cicumber Vietnamese names: Muop xo (Mướp xơ), Muop rung (Mướp rừng). Luffa operculata (common name, Sponge Cucumber, Wild Loofa or Mướp rừng, Mướp xơ in Vietnamese) is a species of Luffa. It is cultivated for its fruit, which when fully ripe is strongly fibrous and is used as a fibrous scrubbing sponge for household cleaning. The fruit is a capsule with spikes. The fruit is dark-brown when mature. It is also grown in gardens and yards as an ornamental plant. In colder places they can be grown indoors as a houseplant. The species name is derived from the word, operculum, meaning "little lid." When the fruits are mature, and the seeds are ready to be dispersed, a small part of the bottom tip (blossom end) opens up. Then, the seeds fall to the ground.
2.7- Genus Momordica (Vietnamese: Chi Muop dang) 2.7.1- Introduction Genus Momordica is a genus of about 60 species of annual or perennial climbers herbaceous or rarely small shrubs belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, natives of tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia and Australia. Most species produce floral oils and are visited by specialist pollinators in the apid tribe Ctenoplectrini. A molecular phylogeny that includes all species is available (Schaefer and Renner, 2010). There are 42 species are accepted of this Genus. 2.7.2-Synonyms CalpidosicyosHarms DimorphochlamysHook.f. DimorphoclamysHook.f. EulenburgiaPax MuriciaLour. NeurospermaRaf. NeurospermumBartl., orth. var. NevrospermaRaf., orth. var. Raphanistrocarpus (Baill.) Pax RaphanocarpusHook.f. ZuccaComm. ex Juss. 2.7.3- Selected species Momordica balsamina L. - Balsam apple Momordica charantia L. - Bitter melon, a widely-grown edible relative. Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. - Gac, a Vietnamese relative. Momordica cymbalaria Hook.f. - Used as local folk medicine in India. Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. -Spiny gourd. Momordica enneaphylla Cogn.- Wild gourd in in Cameroon, and the Congo. Momordica foetida Schumach. - an African relative. 2.7.4- The Major species of Genus Momordica used as Fruit Vegetables Some Momordica species are grown in cultivation for their fleshy fruit, which are oblong to cylindrical in shape, orange to red in colour. - Species (Momordica balsammina L.) - Balsam apple Momordica balsamina and the related Momordica charantia share some common names: "African cucumber", "balsam apple", and "balsam pear". Other names for M. balsamina are "balsamina" or "southern balsam pear". Momordica balsamina is a tendril-bearing annualvine native to the tropical regions of Africa, introduced and invasive in Asia, Australia, and Central America. It has pale yellow, deeply veined flowers and round, somewhat warty, bright orange fruits, or "apples". When ripe, the fruits burst apart, revealing numerous seeds covered with a brilliant scarlet, extremely sticky coating. The balsam apple was introduced into Europe by 1568 and was used medicinally to treat wounds. The outer rind and the seeds of the fruit are poisonous. - Species (Momordica charantia L.) - Bitter melon Vietnamese: Muop dang (Mướp đắng), Kho qua (Khổ qua). Species Momordica charantia often called bitter melon, bitter gourd or bitter squash in English, has many other local names. Goya from the indigenous language of Okinawa and karavella from Sanskrit are also used by English-language speakers. Bitter melon originated on the Indian subcontinent, and was introduced into China in the 14th century. It is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit, which is extremely bitter. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith. The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. As the fruit ripens, the flesh (rind) becomes tougher, more bitter, and too distasteful to eat. On the other hand, the pith becomes sweet and intensely red; it can be eaten uncooked in this state, and is a popular ingredient in some Southeast Asian salads. When the fruit is fully ripe, it turns orange and mushy, and splits into segments which curl back dramatically to expose seeds covered in bright red pulp. Some parts of the plant including arils (seed covering) are toxic, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and even death in children. Bitter melon comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The cultivar common to China is 20-30 cm long, oblong with bluntly tapering ends and pale green in color, with a gently undulating, warty surface. Bitter melon (Momordica charantiaL.) has been used in Chinese folk medicine for centuries as a 'bitter, cold' herb, and has recently been brought into mainstream Chinese medicine as well as natural medical traditions around the world. Recent research has shown that the immature fruit might have some antibiotic, anticancer, and antiviral properties, particularly well suited for use in treatment of malaria, HIV, and diabetic conditions. The use of Momordica fruit is contraindicated in a number of conditions, especially pregnancy. - SpeciesMomordica cochinchinensis - Gac, Red Melon Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. is a Southeast Asianfruit found throughout the region from Southern China to Northeastern Australia, including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is commonly known as Gac, from the VietnameseGac (gấc) or quả gấc (quả being a classifier for spherical objects such as fruit). It is known as Red Melon, Baby Jackfruit, Spiny Bitter Gourd, Sweet Gourd, or Cochinchin Gourd in English. In Thai it is pronounced fahk khao. Because it has a relatively short harvest season (which peaks in December and January), making it less abundant than other foods, gac is typically served at ceremonial or festive occasions in Vietnam, such as Tết (the Vietnamese new year) and weddings. It is most commonly prepared as a dish called xôi gấc, in which the aril and seeds of the fruit are cooked in glutinous rice, imparting both their color and flavor. More recently, the fruit has begun to be marketed outside of Asia in the form of juicedietary supplements because of its allegedly high phytonutrient content. Gac or Red Melon, grows on dioeciousvines and is usually collected from fence climbers or from wild plants. The vines can be commonly seen growing on lattices at the entrances to rural homes or in gardens. It only fruits once a year, and is found seasonally in local markets. The fruit itself becomes a dark orange color upon ripening, and is typically round or oblong, maturing to a size of about 13 cm in length and 10 cm in diameter. Its exterior skin is covered in small spines while its dark red interior consists of clusters of fleshy pulp and seeds. Traditionally, gac has been used as both food and medicine in the regions in which it grows. Other than the use of its fruit and leaves for special Vietnamese culinary dishes, gac is also used for its medicinal and nutritional properties. In Vietnam, the seed membranes are said to aid in the relief of dry eyes, as well as to promote healthy vision. Similarly, in traditional Chinese medicine the seeds of gac, known in Mandarin Chinese as mùbiēzǐ, are employed for a variety of internal and external purposes. - SpeciesMomordica cymbalaria (Hook., Fenzl ex Naud.) Momordica cymbalaria is a vine of the Momordica genus found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. It is used in the local folk medicine as an abortifacient and for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. It is a relative of the bitter melon plant (M. charantia) which is also used against diabetes. The plant has also been named Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) or Momordica tuberosa (Roxb.) Pharmacological studies indicate possible action of extracts of the plant on several medical conditions. The water extract was reported to have hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rabbits but not in normal rabbits. The ethanol extract was reported to protect rats from isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury. - SpeciesMomordica dioica - Spiny gourd Momordica dioica, commonly known as spiny gourd and also known as kantola, is a species of flowering plant in the gourd family. It is used as a vegetable in all regions of India and some parts in South Asia. It has commercial importance and is exported and used locally. The fruits are cooked with spices,or fried and sometimes eaten with meat or fish. - SpeciesMomordica enneaphylla SpeciesMomordica enneaphylla is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss. - SpeciesMomordica foetida - Wild cucumber in Affrica Momordica foetida is a perennial climbing vine native of tropical Africa, closely related to the bitter melon (M. charantia) and balsam apple (M. balsamina). Its species name ("bad-smelling") refers to its unpleasant smell. It was previously named M. morkorra (A. Rich) and M. cordata (Cogn.). It is used as wild vegetable and folk medicine in India. Local names for the plant include concombre sauvage (French for "wild cucumber"). The leaves have a bitter taste but it is eaten in Gabon and Malawi. The fruit is edible and is consumed in various countries, including Ghana, Gabon, Sudan and Tanganyika. The root is considered edible in Sudan.
3- Vietnamese Fruit Vegetables from Family Cucurbitaceae
The Family Cucurbitaceae (also called Gour family) consist of approximately 125 genera and 960 species, mainly in regions tropical and subtropical. The the most important families of which are: Benincasa : Winter melon or Wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) Citrullus : watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and others Cucumis: cucumber (Cucumis sativus), various melons Cucurbita : squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds Lagenaria: mostly non-edible gourds Luffa: common name also luffa Momordica : Bitter gourd, bitter melon The Cucurbitaceae family ranks among the highest of plant families for number and percentage of species used as human food. The plants in this family are grown around the tropics and in temperate areas, where those with edible fruits were among the earliest cultivated plants both in the Old and New World. Vietnam is one tropical climate country with many Species of numerous Genera of Family Cucurbitaceae growing wildly and are cultivated to use their fruits as vegetables of flesh fruits. The main species of Cucurbitaceae Fruits in Vietnam as the following: 3.1-Vietnamese Fruits from Genus Benincasa (Vietnamese: Chi Bi dao) 3.1.1- Vietnamese White Gourd ( Bi dao) - Species: Benincasa hispidaThunb. - English common names: Winter melon, Wax gourd, White gourd, Winter gourd, Tallow gourd, Chinese preserving melon, or Ash gourd. - Vietnamese names: Bi dao (Bí đao), Bi trang (Bí trắng) or Bi phan (Bí phấn). - Cultivars: 1- Bi dao (Bí dao) 2- Bi dao chanh (Bí đao chanh): See more information here:
3.2- Vietnamese Fruits from Genus Citrullus (Vietnamese: Chi Dua hau) 2.2.1- Vietnamese Water Melon ( Dua hau) - Species: Citrullus lanatus (or Synonym: Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) - English name: Watermelon. - Vietnamese names: Dua hau (Dưa hấu). - Cultivars: 1- Dua hau qua tron (Dưa hấu quả tròn) - Dua hau qua tron – Ruot do (Dưa hấu quả tròn- Ruột đỏ) - Dua hau qua tron – Ruot vang (Dưa hấu quả tròn- Ruột vàng) 2- Dua hau qua dai (Dưa hấu quả dài) - Dua hau qua dai – Ruot do (Dưa hấu quả dài - Ruột đỏ) - Dua hau qua dai – Ruot vang (Dưa hấu quả dài - Ruột vàng) 3- Dua hau lay hat (Dưa hấu lấy hạt) 4- Dua hau khong hat (Dưa hấu không hạt) See more information here => Vietnamese watermelon (Dua hau)
3.3- Fruits from the Genus Cucumis (Vietnamese: Chi Dua gang) 3.3.1- Species Cucumis melo - True melons, Muskmelon. - English common names: Melon, True melons, Muskmelon. - Vietnamese names: Dua bo (Dua bở), Dua gang (Dưa gang). - Cultivars: 1- Dua bo, Dua gang (Dưa bở, Dua gang (Dưa gang) - Dua gang dai (Dưa gang dài) - Dua gang tron (Dưa gang tròn) 2- Dưa le (Dua lê) 3- Dua luoi (Dưa lưới) See more information here:
Dua le (Many cultivars of True Melon)
3.3.2- Species Cucurmis sativus - English name: Cucumber - Vietnamese name: Dưa chuột, Dưa leo Species Cucumis sativus(Cucumber) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless. Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged. The cucumber is originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents. Many different varieties are traded on the global market.
3.4- Genus Cucurbita (Vietnamese: Chi Bi ngo) 3.4.1- SpeciesCucurbita ficifolia - Asian Pumpkin - Common English names: Siam pumpkin, Thai marrow, Thin Vermicelli pumpkin, Asian pumpkin, Fig-leaf gourd, Pie melon (in Australia and New Zealand)… - Vietnamese names: Bi ngo (Bí ngô), Bi ro (Bí rợ), Bi do (Bí đỏ), Bi sap (Bí sáp). 3.4.2- Other Species: Cultivars: - Bi ro qua dep (Bí rợ quả dẹp) - Bi ro qua tròn (Bí rợ quả tròn) - Bi ro qua dai (Bí rợ quả dài) See more information here => Vietnamese pumpkin (Bi ro)
Many cultivars of Pumkin
3.5- Fruits from Genus Lagenaria (Vietnamese: Chi Bầu) 3.5.1- Species Lagenaria siceraria (synonym Lagenaria vulgaris Ser.) - English common names: Calabash also known as opo squash, bottle gourd or long melon. Rounder varieties are called calabash gourds. - Vietnamese names: Bau (Bầu). - Cultivars: - Bau Ho lo (Bầu Hồ lô) - bottle gourd - Bau thuon (Bầu thuôn). - Bau tron (Bầu tròn) See more information here =>
3.6-Fruits from Genus Luffa (Vietnamese: Chi Mướp) 3.6.1- Species Luffa acutangula - Angled luffa - English names: Angled luffa, ridged luffa, vegetable gourd. - Vietnamese name: Muop khia (Mướp khía). See more information here => 3.6.2- Species Luffa aegyptipica (Synonym: Luffa cylindrica) - Smooth luffa - English names: Luffa, Loofah, Smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa, Dishrag gourd, Gourd loofa, Vietnamese luffa, Vietnamese gourd, or Chinese okra. - Vietnamese names: Muop (Mướp), Muop huong (Mướp hương). See more information here => 3.6.3-Species Luffa operculata - Wild luffa, Sponge Cucumber - English names: Sponge Cucumber, Wild Loofa. - Vietnamese names: Muop xo (Mướp xơ), Muop rung (Mướp rừng). See more information hee =>
3.7- Fruits from Genus Momordica (Vietnamese: Chi Muop dang) 3.7.1 - Species (Momordica charantia L.) - Bitter melon - English Common names: Bitter melon, Bitter gourd, Bitter squash, Goya… - Vietnamese names: Muop dang (Mướp đắng), Kho qua (Khổ qua). Cultivars: - Kho qua (Khổ qua) - Kho qua rung (Khổ qua rừng). See more information here=> Vietnamese bitter melon (kho qua) 3.7.2 - SpeciesMomordica cochinchinensis - Gac, Red Melon - English names: Gac (from the Vietnamese Gac (gấc)), Red Melon, Baby Jackfruit, Spiny Bitter Gourd, Sweet Gourd, Cochinchin Gourd… - Vietnamese name: Gac (Gấc) See more informatin here =>