Cucurbita mixta
1
9.5
- noun
- Specialized
- The fruit of Cucurbita mixta is known for its unique striped and warty rind.
Examples
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Farmers in Mexico often grow Cucurbita mixta for its edible seeds and flavorful flesh.
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Botanists classify several cultivated squashes under the species Cucurbita mixta.
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I planted a Cucurbita mixta in my garden this spring.
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The Cucurbita mixta produces beautiful striped fruit.
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Farmers in Mexico often grow Cucurbita mixta for its edible seeds and flavorful flesh.
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The fruit of Cucurbita mixta is known for its unique striped and warty rind.
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Botanists classify several cultivated squashes under the species Cucurbita mixta.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A squash plant that has large oval fruits with striped, bumpy skin often green
A squash plant with round or oval fruits and striped, often bumpy skin
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cucurbita + mixta
This is a scientific Latin binomial: knowing 'Cucurbita' (a gourd/squash genus) allows a learner to infer that the phrase names a species of squash. However, 'mixta' is a Latin epithet (not a common English word) and the detailed descriptive meaning (striped, warty fruit) is specialized and not predictable from the constituents, so the phrase is only partly inferable.
Etymology
Cucurbita mixta comes from old Latin words: Cucurbita means a squash or gourd and mixta means 'mixed'. The fruit often has a mixed look with grey, green and white stripes and warty skin, so the name gives a simple picture to help you remember this kind of squash.