SaralnamaPumpkins are favorites for being used in fall decorations, Halloween jack-o'-lanterns, and the famous Thanksgiving pie. But underneath their happy, often bumpy outside is a complex botanical identity. What the scientific name for pumpkin is and why they are sometimes called a cucurbit, is a mystery for not just you, but many! Botanically, pumpkins are a type of berry called a pepo because they grow from the flower and have seeds. In the kitchen, we often think of them as vegetables. The pumpkin's global presence is significant. The USDA says that U.S. farmers harvested more than 68,000 acres and grew about 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins in 2024. This production
What is the Scientific Name for Pumpkin? – dates — Key details for readers
Jack-o'-lanterns, ornamental, include many popular varieties like 'Howden'. Grown for world-record size; includes many large winter squash varieties. Butternut Squash/Processing Pumpkin Used for processing (canned pumpkin is often this species), known for its sweet flavor. Also Read – What is the Scientific Name of Sugarcane? The family of pumpkin is Cucurbitaceae, often collectively known as the cucurbits family or the gourd family. It has about 98 genera and almost 1,000 species, most of which are herbaceous annuals or perennials that grow as climbing vines with tendrils.
What is the Scientific Name for Pumpkin? – dates — Background and present status
In the kitchen, we often think of them as vegetables. The USDA says that U.S. farmers harvested more than 68,000 acres and grew about 1.4 billion pounds of pumpkins in 2024. This popular crop's rich history, nutritional value, and agricultural importance all tie back to its formal botanical name and its place in the extensive Cucurbitaceae family. The botanical name for pumpkin is not just one word. The word "pumpkin" is used for many different cultivated species in the genus Cucurbita.
What is the Scientific Name for Pumpkin? – dates — What to check from officials
The most common Latin name for the common field or carving pumpkin, on the other hand, is Cucurbita pepo. The scientific classification follows a hierarchical system, from the largest category to the most specific: Family: Cucurbitaceae (The Gourd Family, often called the cucurbits family) Therefore, the proper binomial nomenclature is Cucurbita pepo. Do You Know – Which 5 US States Produce the Most Pumpkins? This variety accounts for the wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes we see, from massive carving pumpkins to small, sweet pie varieties. The scientific name of the pumpkin plant can differ based on the type you are growing or consuming.
Key Points
- Pumpkins are favorites for being used in fall decorations, Halloween jack-o'-lanterns, and the famous Thanksgiving pie
- But underneath their happy, often bumpy outside is a complex botanical identity
- What the scientific name for pumpkin is and why they are sometimes called a cucurbit, is a mystery for not just you, but many
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