Gem squash

Taxobox
name = Gem squash


image_width =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Cucurbitales
familia = Cucurbitaceae
genus = "Cucurbita"
species = "C. pepo"
binomial = "Cucurbita pepo"
binomial_authority =

Gem squash ("Cucurbita pepo") is a variety of summer squash that was domesticated from two wild varieties; "Cucurbita texana" found in the southern and central United States and "Cucurbita fraterna" found in Mexico. [cite book|title=Historical geography of crop plants - a select roster|first=Jonathan D.|last=Sauer|publisher=CRC Press|location=Boca Raton, Florida|year=1993|id=ISBN 0849389011|url=] The dark green spherical fruit, when fully ripe, is about the size of a softball ball (slightly larger than a tennis ball). The fruit needs to be boiled in order to render it palatable. The young fruit is often harvested before it is ripe (about golf ball size) because the young fruit have a more delicate flavour and texture.

References