Pumpkin

Pumpkin, one of the common names for a genus of flowering plants that are characteristically spreading vines with showy yellow-orange flowers, large lobed leaves, and long twisting tendrils. The pumpkin genus is native to warmer parts of America and is an economically important member of the gourd family.

Pumpkins, squash, and some kinds of gourd are the fruits of four different species of this genus. Summer squash is eaten when the fruit is immature. Winter squash is derived from all four species and is eaten after the fruit has matured. Winter squash may be stored for winter consumption, hence the name. All four species also produce pumpkins, which are similar to winter squash. They are used mainly as pie filling and as jack-o'-lanterns.

Scientific classification: Pumpkins make up the genus Cucurbita of the family Cucurbitaceae. The four different species of the genus producing pumpkins, squash, and some kinds of gourd are classified as Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita moschata, and Cucurbita pepo. Summer squash is from Cucurbita pepo.