I would recognize a pumpkin when I saw it. It is a squash that resembles a gourd, but it is bigger than most of the gourds we know. If you want to grow pumpkins or get to know them a little better, here are some terms to become familiar with.

The pumpkin has been studied and here are the findings. We already know that it is a nutritious fruit to eat. Loaded with antioxidants like beta carotene, pumpkin can stop the damaging effects of aging on our bodies.

But, what do we call all of the parts of a pumpkin? Here is an anatomy lesson. Pumpkins have a top and a bottom. The top is where the stem is and the bottom is the flat area on which the pumpkin sits. The sides are called the “face” of the pumpkin.

The stem is found on the top of the pumpkin. It is an umbilical cord of sorts that is used to feed the pumpkin from seed to full “pumpkinhood” when the link is severed. Holding a pumpkin by the stem can cause it to break off.

Some pumpkins in the patch have curly green “hair” around the leaves and the stem. It is not a fashion statement, but tendrils. Unlike jungle tendrils that grab you and cause a fright, these tendrils wind around vines to hold immature pumpkins in place.

Pumpkins are not flat but bumpy. These bumps are called ribs. The ribs give the pumpkin form and character.