Pumpkin (Cucurbita, Cucurbitaceae)
It is the name given to the fruits of plants of Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita ficifolia Cucurbita and argyrosperma. Pumpkins are native to the Americas. Archeological records associate this species to man for at least 10,000 years. Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus the people who used to live here selected the tastiests varieties of pumpkin pulp and seeds. These varieties were part of the food base of the Olmec civilization, and were later incorporated into the food of the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans. After 1500, Europeans spread the pumpkins around the world. In Brazil, are grown commercial varieties and mixed(creole) varieties of the five species (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita ficifolia Cucurbita and argyrosperma).
