On this day of the Jack-O-Lantern, it is interesting to look at the natural history of pumpkins. Native to Central America, the pumpkin is a member of the genus Cucurbita, which also includes squash, cucumbers and gourds. This genus is complex in that its various species are comprised of some representatives from all of the above groups; in other words, one type of pumpkin may be related to a certain squash but not to other pumpkins. Furthermore, members of the same species group, while designated as pumpkin, squash or gourd, are capable of cross-fertilization.
Current evidence suggests that pumpkins have been used by man for 9000 years or more. Initially collected for their edible seeds and pulp, they were eventually cultivated and, by the time European explorers arrived, their shell was being used to construct mats. Classified as a fruit, the pumpkin is an annual vine squash which produces both male and female flowers on the same plant. Early in the growth cycle, only male flowers are produced (likely to entice local pollinators); as the plant matures, the ratio of male to female flowers remains high (10:1) though all are short-lived, blooming for only 24 hours. The pumpkins develop at the base of the female flower and mature over several months.
Now cultivated across the globe, pumpkins come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes; giant pumpkins may reach 1000 lbs or more. Illinois leads the U.S. in the production of pumpkins, which are destined for both human and lifestock consumption. Rich in beta-carotine, a natural antioxidant, pumpkins are also consumed by a many small mammals (raccoons, opossum, woodchucks, mice) which feast on their flowers, seeds and pulp.
