The squashes, pumpkins, gourds and cucumbers are all members of the Cucurbitaceae, and as such have long histories of use as food and utility items. Numerous cultivars of Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis melo have been developed. In eastern Maryland, cantaloupe is a multi-million dollar industry. Pickels and gerkins come from the cucumber species Cucumis sativus . Many of the species in the family are used medicinally in many cultures and have been used over long periods of time.
Some species are weedy, and a few are cultivated.
4 genera and some 950 species. Numerous species of begonia are cultivated, with many grown as house plants and in greenhouses in temperate regions of the world. 15 genera and 300 species. The largest genera in terms of numbers of species are Loasa and Mentzelia with some 100 and 70 species respectively. Plants of the former range from Mexico to Chile while those of the latter are found mainly in arid and semiarid regions of North and South America.