[Sca-cooks] Marrow (Long)

[Terry Decker]

Ovifera was probably seen as a subspecies.  C. ovifera would be a correct
form.

Cross-pollination is one on the determinants of species.  From my reading,
one of the experimenters in cross-pollination determined that some species
can pollinate all species, but others can only pollinate closely related
species.  The speculation is that along the evolutionary chain pollination
is forward compatible, but not totally backward compatible.

Gourds (Langenaria) are hard shelled and they float.  The common
explaination is gourds fell into African rivers and were carried to sea
where ocean currents transported them to distant shores.  Accidental
dispersion.  Diffusionists, on the otherhand, believe they were transported
by human means.

Bear


>Cucurbita ovifera is today Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera, but when was
>that
>determined. As I understand it, there are still discussions going on
>regarding
>which botanical group which variety of new world squash belongs to.
> And as they cross-pollinate
>freely if planted in the same patch, that only adds to the confusion.
>When OED was published did Cucurbita ovifera refer to Cucurbita pepo
>var. ovifera
>or has this changed in the past 90 years?
>
>I have to wonder about the Asia as a source having to do with the
>discovery of
>gourds being both old world and then turning up thousands of
>years later in Mexico, but well prior to the voyages of discovery.
>
>> > Johnna Holloway Johnnae llyn Lewis