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Habitat:
Europe, America, South Africa.
Description: a family of herbaceous plants or prostrate little
shrubs, often climbing by means of tendrils. The stem and leaves are usually
rough and covered in hairs. The flowers may be yellow or white and develop
into a modified berry, better called ‘pepo’, which contains numerous seeds.
It is comprised of 110 genera and more than 600 species, some of which are
succulent and some others have a caudex (Madagascar). A few species are
dioecious.
Soil: basic mix.
Location: full sun to partial shade.
Temperature: minimum temperature of 12-15°C (54-59°F).
Water: abundant during the growth period to prevent the leaves from
withering. Keep dry when dormant.
Cultivation tips: easy; propagation is from cuttings at a temperature
of 12-15°C (54-59°F): lay these portions of the stem onto the soil without
sinking them into it. These plants go dormant in the autumn when the minimum
temperature falls to 6°C (43°F) or so. After the leaves have fallen it’s
advisable to tidy up the long branches. It’s essential that the plants be
allowed to rest in the winter. Watch out for fungal diseases.
Main genera: Cephalopentandra, Coccinia,Corallocarpus, Cucurbita,
Gerrardanthus, Ibervillea, Kedrostis, Momordica, Xerosicyoss, Zygosicyos.
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