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Cucumber
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A green cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit growing on the vine next to a bright yellow blossom, surrounded by green leaves. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
The gourd family: Melons, squashes, and cucumbers
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A green cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit growing on the vine next to a bright yellow blossom, surrounded by green leaves.
Cucumis sativus Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit and flower.

Cucumber

plant
Also known as: Cucumis sativus
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History

Cucumber, (Cucumis sativus), creeping plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), widely cultivated for its edible fruit. The nutritional value of the cucumber is low, but its delicate flavor makes it popular for salads and relishes. Small fruits are often pickled. The cucumber can be grown in frames or on trellises in greenhouses in cool climates and is cultivated as a field crop and in home gardens in warmer areas.

Taxonomy

See also list of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae.

How to tell cucumber apart from zucchini?

Cucumber and zucchini can be thought of as distant cousins. They belong to different genera. Although both produce long, green, edible fruits, they differ in their texture and taste. Zucchini produces fruits with thicker skin, which is usually not peeled before consumption. These fruits are commonly cooked before eating. The fruits of cucumber, on the other hand, have thinner skin, which is usually peeled, and are frequently consumed raw. Their skin typically also bears small bumps. When cut open, the seeds of cucumber are more prominent than those of zucchini.

The cucumber plant is a tender annual with a rough, succulent, trailing stem. The hairy leaves have three to five pointed lobes, and the stem bears branched tendrils by which the plant can be trained to supports. The five-petaled yellow flowers are unisexual and produce a type of berry known as a pepo. The heat requirement is one of the highest among the common vegetables, and the fruits can become bitter if exposed to uneven watering conditions. The plants are susceptible to a number of bacterial and fungal diseases, including downy mildew, anthracnose, and Fusarium wilt.

The related gherkin (Cucumis anguria) is grown outdoors principally for pickling.

Ceviche. Peruvian ceviche (sebiche). Raw seafood dish with lime, cilantro, peppers, plantains. Cuisine, food
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Manjishtha Bhattacharyya.