Spaghetti Squash--A Seed Volunteer

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A Volunteer Spaghetti Squash

Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae)

1. Spaghetti Squash: Cucurbita pepo

A volunteer spaghetti squash (Cucurbita pepo) that came from the seed of a store-bought spaghetti squash. The early summer fruits had a light green rind and nonfibrous flesh that resembled a typical summer (scallop) squash. The characteristic fibrous flesh developed by late summer. C. pepo is a monoecious species with separate male and female flowers on the same plant. This photo shows a pollen-bearing male (staminate) flower. It is very similar to the blossoms of coyote melon (C. foetidissima), a drought-resistant California vine with a massive taproot.

See Female Flower Of A Coyote Melon

A volunteer spaghetti squash (Cucurbita pepo) that came from the seed of a store-bought spaghetti squash. The early summer fruits had a light green rind and nonfibrous flesh that superficially resembled the rind and flesh of a typical summer (scallop) squash. The characteristic fibrous flesh developed by late summer.

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