in taxon fruit plant used as vegetable squash, gourd or pumpkin plant MANSFELD:4048 Cucurbita maxima L. (Duch.) Cucurbita (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous vines in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, also known as cucurbits, native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. Five species are grown worldwide for their edible fruit, variously known as squash, pumpkin, or gourd depending on species, variety, and local parlance, and for their seeds. cucurbita spp. pumpkin plant pumpkin, squash or gourd gourd/squash family Cucurbita ready for release