what type of plant is a pumpkin

A pumpkin is a type of plant belonging to the genus Cucurbita in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping or trailing plant and is botanically classified as a fruit called a pepo, which is a type of berry with a thick rind. Pumpkins specifically refer to certain cultivars within the species Cucurbita pepo, but can also include cultivars of Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita mixta, and Cucurbita maxima. These plants are characterized by their large, round, orange or orange-yellow fruit with a thick rind.