Pumpkin is an annual dicotyledonous herbaceous plant that prefers a warm growing environment and is not particular about soil requirements. The following are six characteristics of the surface of a pumpkin:
1. Color
Pumpkin colors vary depending on the variety, typically with orange or green skin, but other colors also exist. Orange pumpkins have a more powdery and soft texture, suitable for eating directly as a whole grain, while green pumpkins have a crisper texture, better suited for stir-fries.
2. Shape
The shape of pumpkins is not fixed; the fruit can be round, oblate, oblong, spindle-shaped, or gourd- shaped, and some are more like hourglass shapes or other shapes. The most common shape of pumpkin is oblate, but there are also gourd-shaped pumpkins that are smaller at the top and larger at the bottom. Now, some countries have even cultivated square and triangular pumpkins.
3. Epidermis
The skin of a pumpkin is generally smooth, but sometimes it may be slightly rough or have fine hairs. A typical flat, round pumpkin has deep, vertical indentations on its skin, which is quite distinctive and makes it easy to identify at a glance. It is hollow inside and contains many gray or white seeds.
4. Leaves
Pumpkin leaves are palmate, relatively large, and typically consist of three to seven leaves, about 12-15 cm long and 20-30 cm wide. The leaves are covered with a thick layer of yellowish-white fuzz, making them prickly to the touch, and may also have some small white spots. The leaves are bright green, with a lighter color on the underside, and the edges are not perfectly smooth, featuring serrated lines.
5. Flowers
Pumpkin flowers are monoecious plants, which facilitates pollination and fruit setting. The male flower's calyx is bell-shaped with striped lobes, about one centimeter long. When it blooms, the upper part enlarges into a leaf shape. The corolla is usually pale yellow and about 8 centimeters long. The female flower has several more styles than the male flower, with three stigmas.
6. Stems
The pumpkin's stem is very strong and can support the heavy fruit . Its rough, angular, and fuzzy skin can effectively protect the fruit inside from external damage.
