How to grow cucumbers. 1st Chapter

The cucumber is a vegetable that belongs to the cucurbitaceous family, and which is known scientifically as Cucumis sativus.
It is an annual monoecious trailing, climbing, herbaceous plant whenever an adequate system of training ties or trellising is used.
The root system consists in a main root, which branches out into very fine superficial secondary roots which are white in colour. The main stem is angular and thorny with nodes at the point where the thorns and leaves develop. Secondary shoots will bud from each leaf axil.
The leaves are positioned alternately along the stem; they have stalks which are lobe or bell shaped with 3 or 4 dark green lobes, covered in a very fine down.
The flowers are yellow drooping leaf axils which are generally unisexual.
The male flowers appear grouped in the leaf axils of the secondary stems and are grouped together in clusters of 3 to 5 flowers.