Cucumber

The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely grown plant in the family Cucurbitaceae. This family also includes squash. A cucumber looks similar to a zucchini (British English: courgette).

Cucumber
Cucumbers growing on vines
Photograph of a single cucumber fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Cucumis
Species:	C. sativus
Binomial name
Cucumis sativus L.

To a botanist, cucumbers are biologically fruits even if they are commonly thought of as vegetables: that is their value as a food. They can be cooked, eaten raw, or pickled. Some people hollow out the cucumber and fill it with other food, like tomatoes or feta cheese.

Cucumbers grow on a climbing plant. They need warm weather, sunlight, and water. People grow them in gardens, farms, and greenhouses.

Wild cucumbers have weak spines that likely evolved as a defense against herbivory, many people have purebred cucumbers to be less spiny.

A pile of cucumbers for sale at a market

Cucumber Media

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  trans,cis-2,6-Nonadienal, or cucumber aldehyde, is a component of the distinctive aroma of cucumbers.

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  Lobster, Crab, and a Cucumber by William Henry Hunt (watercolour, 1826 or 1827)

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  Concombre Fournier in "Les plantes potagères" Vilmorin 1925

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  Leaves of Cucumber (a creeping vine plant)

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  A tendril facilitates climbing

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  A string lattice supports vine growth

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  Cucumis sativus, Cucurbitaceae, Cucumber, flower. The fruit is used in homeopathy as remedy: Cucumis sativus (Cucum.)

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  A bulb-shaped cucumber hanging on the vine

• Cucumber seeds

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  Organic Gardener Holding a Fresh Salad Cucumber