Home gardeners simply call them cukes. But botanists refer to cucumbers as Cucumis sativis. They belong to a very large family of over 500 cousins that include squash, pumpkins, gourds and melons. In fact, some cukes can cross-pollinate with some of the others in the family resulting in some very interesting results.
What is cukes in cucumber?
1. cuke – cylindrical green fruit with thin green rind and white flesh eaten as a vegetable; related to melons. cucumber. veg, vegetable, veggie – edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant. gherkin – small prickly cucumber.
Why is a cucumber not a fruit?
The botanical classification: Cucumbers are fruit. A botanical fruit would have at least one seed and grow from the flower of the plant. With this definition in mind, cucumbers are classified as fruit because they contain tiny seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of the cucumber plant.
Are cucumbers healthy for you?
It’s high in beneficial nutrients, as well as certain plant compounds and antioxidants that may help treat and even prevent some conditions. Also, cucumbers are low in calories and contain a good amount of water and soluble fiber, making them ideal for promoting hydration and aiding in weight loss.
Why are English cucumbers wrapped in plastic?
Cook’s Illustrated notes that the plastic wrap creates an “airtight second skin,” which keeps the cucumber fresh and reduces the chances of spoilage and condensation, which prevents moisture loss and helps freshness last much longer.
What does English cucumbers taste like?
In terms of appearance, it is longer and narrower than other cucumbers. And just like any other burpless cucumber, its smooth, thin skin is edible. In terms of taste, the English cucumber has a mildly sweet flavor, in contrast with the other cucumbers that can be bitter due to their seeds.
What is the meaning of cukes?
cucumber
Definitions of cuke. cylindrical green fruit with thin green rind and white flesh eaten as a vegetable; related to melons. synonyms: cucumber. types: gherkin.
Why do they call a cucumber a cucumber?
Vegetable Dictionary – Cucumber. The word “cucumber” comes from the Latin name “cucumis.” Three hundred years ago, the English called it “cowcumber.” Cucumbers originated in India between the northern part of the Bay of Bengal and the Himalayan Mountains.
Is a cucumber a melon?
The Melon Family, Cucurbitaceae, is a plant family commonly known as melons, gourds or cucurbits and includes crops like cucumbers, squashes (including pumpkins), luffas, melons (including watermelons).
Is cucumber part of your 5 a day?
A portion is 1.5 full-length celery sticks, a 5cm piece of cucumber, 1 medium tomato or 7 cherry tomatoes.
