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A United Nations of Fruit
 BECOME A KITCHEN BOTANIST: A United Nations of Fruit--Melons, Pumpkins, and Squash
You might not think of gourds when you eat cucumbers, melons, squash, and pumpkin pie, but they all belong to the gourd family or Cucurbitaceae. They are all fruits, but can be eaten along with vegetables and often share the name.
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativa) are thought to have originated in North India, and they have been cultivated for at least three thousand years.
A number of cucurbit species are called gourds, and some are native to the Old World and some to the New World. The dried fruits are used for a variety of purposes from drinking utensils to bird houses.
Muskmelons or cantaloupes are in the same genus as cucumbers, and while cantaloupe is probably the most used name in the U.S., muskmelon is the most descriptive. Cantaloupe is a name derived from Cantalupo which is the name of a Papal Estate in Italy where the fruit was first grown in Europe. This is ironic, because the melon actually originated in Iran.
Watermelons originated in Africa, while pumpkins and squash are native to Central and South America. In fact, squash is a name derived from a Native American word for the fruit. The geographical origins of these delicacies represent a veritable United Nations of fruit.
Roast the seed of these fruits and enjoy a snack common in many parts of the globe.
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