The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a creeping vine plant in the family Cucurbitaceae.
It bears cylindrical to spherical fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.
An annual plant, with three main types of cucumber—slicing, pickling, and seedless within which several cultivars have been created.
The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruits.
The fruit of typical cultivars of cucumber is roughly cylindrical, but elongated with tapered ends.
It may be as large as 62 centimeters (24 in) long and 10 centimeters (4 in) in diameter.
Cucumber fruits consist of 95% water.
In botanical terms, the cucumber is classified as a type of botanical berry with a hard outer rind and no internal divisions.
However, much like tomatoes and squashes, it is often perceived, prepared, and eaten as a vegetable.
Most cucumber cultivars are seeded and require pollination.
Phytochemicals in cucumbers may discourage foraging by herbivores, such as insects, nematodes or wildlife.
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) Energy 65 kJ (16 kcal) Carbohydrates 3.63 g Sugars 1.67 Dietary fiber 0.5 g Fat 0.11 g Protein 0.65 g Water 95.23 g
Raw cucumber, with its peel, is 95% water, 4% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contains negligible fat.
It has a low content of micronutrients: it is notable only for vitamin K, at 14% of the Daily Value.
Cucumbers are classified into three main cultivar groups: slicing, pickling, and seedless/burpless.
Cucumbers grown to eat fresh are called slicing cucumbers.
Cucumber can be pickled, as commercial pickles.
Gherkins, also called baby pickles, are small cucumbers, typically those 2.5 to 12.5 centimetres (1 to 5 in) in length, often with bumpy skin, which are typically used for pickling.
Burpless cucumbers are sweeter and have a thinner skin than other varieties of cucumber.
Cucumber shoots are regularly consumed as a vegetable, especially in rural areas.
In 2022, world production of cucumbers and gherkins was 95 million tonnes, led by China with 82% of the total.