Wild Cucumber
Echinocystis lobata |
|
| Family |
Gourd (Cucurbitaceae) |
 |
| Bloom |
Summer, Fall |
| Habitat |
Wet, shade, deciduous woods,
streambanks |
| Status |
Native |
| Cycle |
Annual |
| Height |
2-10 feet (climbing vine) |
| Flower |
Male flowers form showy, large
round clusters 4-8" long. Flowers have 6 petals on erect stalks rising
from a leaf joint. A single female flower is found at the base of the
male flower stalk. |
| Leaf |
Leaves are large and maple-like
shape with 5 sharply divided lobes culminating in a point resembling a
5-pointed star. |
| Notes |
The fruit is a
single large green pod-like container about 2" long covered in rubbery
spines that dries to a papery skeleton-like brown shell containing 4 seeds,
each in its own chamber. The fruit smells and tastes like cucumber but
will cause upset stomach and diarrhea. |
 |
 |
