cucumber
The cucumber grows on a vine. There are three varieties: slicing, pickling and seedless. The kind we slice and eat fresh is the slicing variety. This type is eaten unripe as odd as it sounds.Once it gets ripe, it turns sour.
Cucumbers have been cultivated for ages. Records indicate that it was grown in the ancient city of Ur.
Emperor Charlemagne grew the cucumber in his garden in the 8th/9th century. Eventually this gourd was taken to England.
The Israelites and Egyptians are said to have eaten cucumbers as well.
Cucumbers feature greatly in the cuisine of Turkey and Bulgaria.