Cucurbitaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) or soft woody vines that climb or trail by spirally coiled tendrils, best known for edible vegetables and fruits like cucumber, squash, pumpkin, and melon; the non-edible Wild Cucumber is the only family member documented for NB.

Petals and petals usually 5, stamens 3 and carpels 3, the like parts usually at least partially fused to one another. At the base of the flower is a cup-like or tubular structure (hypanthium) that becomes the fruit. The fruit may be a berry or capsule, or be squash-like (pepo) with leathery to hard inseparable skin. The seeds are flattened. The leaves are alternate, simple and often lobed, the lobes radiating out like fingers on a hand (palmate).