Cucurbitaceae -- the gourd family (90/700, Distribution: Widespread tropical, subtropical, and a few temperate)
Habit vines, herbs climbing with tendrils; with coarse pubescence
Leaves alternate, simple to deeply lobed, estipulate, mostly palmately-veined
Inflorescences solitary or variously cymose, sometimes paniculate or racemose
Special floral characteristics flowers imperfect; generally yellow; male flowers have variously connate stamens (often appear as 3 stamens = two pairs fused, one free); nectary disk usually present
Calyx 5 sepals, distinct or variously connate or very reduced
Corolla 5 petals, connate; regular (can be deeply lobed and appear distinct)
Androecium 5 stamens. distinct or variously connate
Gynoecium 2-5 carpels, connate; ovary inferior with 1 locule & many parietal ovules or 2-5 locules and 1-many axile ovules; style 1, simple or lobed
Fruit = berry, pepo, capsule or achene
(Floral formula: Ca 5 Co 5 A 5 G 0 // Ca 5 Co 5 A 0 G 3 )