This is an attempt to briefly summarize info on pumpkins from Of Plants and People, by Charles B. Heiser, Jr. Pumpkins are a subgroup of squashes in the species Cucurbita pepo (which includes typical pumpkins, some summer squashes, and acorn squashes) or Cucurbita maxima (which includes giant pumpkins and some of the other winter squashes). There are several other species in this genus cultivated. They are all of New World origin; Native Americans grew several varieties.
There were also members of the same family of plants known in the Old World. The hard-shell gourds (genus Lagenaria) are found in both hemispheres before Columbus; the Romans called the ones they knew cucurbitae, which names the family and(singular) our new world squashes. The Greeks called some cucurbit - I'm not sure which - pepo, which name gave rise to the English word pompion and its variant version pumpkin.
OK. Late period Europeans might have had access to what we call pumpkins now. Somebody may be able to find info on the date of their introduction to Europe. Native Americans probably had them for quite a while before period, though how much theirs would resemble any modern varieties I wouldn't care to guess. Some version of what we call them might pop up in the English language before any Englishman ever saw what the word means now.
Is everyone sufficiently confused?
Lady Grania, who likes apple pie better but is real fond of squash as veggies
From: "Anne Sheller" <annesheller@sciotowireless.net>
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Received on Tue Oct 05 23:06:42 2004
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