Читать книгу Cucurbits - James R. Myers - Страница 8

The Cucurbitaceae is a family of frost-sensitive and predominantly tendril-bearing vining plants that are found in subtropical and tropical regions around the globe. There are only a few species that are native to temperate climates; they are either prolific seed-producing annuals, perennials that live for one season until killed by frost, or xerophytic perennials whose succulent underground parts survive the winter. Ecologically, the family is dichotomous; many genera flourish in the humid tropics, particularly in southeastern Asia and the neotropics, whereas other genera are native to the arid regions of Africa, Madagascar and North America. Members of the latter group, the xerophytes, usually have large perennial roots and succulent stems that are clambering and creeping and at least partially subterranean; in some cases, tendrils or leaves are lacking or greatly modified.

Although most crops in the Cucurbitaceae have been selected from the mesophytic annuals, concern over famine and fuel sources in arid countries has led to interest in turning some of the xerophytes into agricultural crops.