A gurkin is a popular vegetable that grows on a leafy vine. It is very closely related to the cucumbers of old Earth, and indeed, the original gurkin plants were cultivated using the seeds from pickled vegetables (gherkins) the humans in Callisto's penal colony happened to have on hand (which is the origin of their name). The gurkin, once its cultivation became widespread, grew popular with many races, especially Amaians and Decheerans.