Family: Cucurbitaceae
Author: (Michx.) Torr. & A.Gray
Bibliography: Fl. N. Amer. 1: 542 (1840)
Year: 1840
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Echinocystis
Vegetable: False
Observations: Canada to WC. & E. U.S.A.
Description
Wild cucumber, scientifically referred to as Echinocystis lobata, is a fascinating plant belonging to the cucurbit family, Cucurbitaceae. This vigorous, annual climber is a sight to behold with its exuberant growth and distinctive fruit, which intriguingly resembles a small cucumber but is not edible. It is native to a broad region stretching from Canada down to the western and eastern United States.
The wild cucumber was first formally described in 1840 and has since intrigued botanists and plant enthusiasts alike. Its climbing nature allows it to swiftly cover trellises, fences, or even other vegetation, creating lush, green coverings.
Characterized by its lobed leaves and unique, spiny fruits, Echinocystis lobata is especially notable during its flowering season. The plant produces small, white to greenish flowers that are arranged in racemes. These blossoms are not only visually appealing but also play a role in attracting pollinators, contributing to the ecological web in its native habitats.
Despite its name, the wild cucumber’s prickly, inflated fruits are not for human consumption. However, they do play a crucial role in the plant’s reproduction by enclosing the seeds within a protective, albeit spiny, capsule until they are mature and ready to be dispersed.
Flora enthusiasts often appreciate the wild cucumber for its rapid growth and unique aesthetic, making it a popular choice for natural, untamed garden spaces. It also holds historical botanical interest due to its description by eminent botanists Michaux, Torrey, and Asa Gray, who made significant contributions to the understanding of North American plant species.
In summary, Echinocystis lobata is much more than a wild cucumber; it is a staple of North American flora, cherished for its resilience, distinctive appearance, and the splash of greenery it brings to the landscapes.
Common Names
Fra: concombre sauvage, concombre grimpant, échinocyste lobé, échinocystis lobé
Lit: dygliavaisis virkštenis
Ita: echinocistis lobata
Nld: egelkomkommer, stekelaugurk
Deu: gelappte stachelgurke, igelgurke, stachelgurke
Pol: kolczurka klapowana
Eng: prickly-cucumber, wild balsam-apple, wild balsamapple, wild cucumber, wild mock-cucumber, wild mockcucumber, wild balsam apple, prickly cucumber, wild mock cucumber
Dan: vild agurk
Lav: adatainais dzeloņgurķis, adatainais dzeloņgurķītis
Est: hõlmine ogakurk
Hun: süntök
Swe: taggreva
Ces: štětinec lalo
En: Wild cucumber, Prickly-cucumber, Wild balsam apple, Wild balsam-apple, Wild balsamapple, Wild mock-cucumber, Wild mockcucumber, Prickly cucumber, Wild mock cucumber
Cs: Štětinec lalo
Da: Vild agurk
Nl: Egelkomkommer, Stekelaugurk
Et: Hõlmine ogakurk
Fr: Concombre sauvage, Concombre grimpant, Échinocyste lobé, Échinocystis lobé
De: Gelappte Stachelgurke, Igelgurke, Stachelgurke
Hu: Süntök
It: Echinocistis lobata, Echinocistis
Lv: Adatainais dzeloņgurķis, Adatainais dzeloņgurķītis
Lt: Dygliavaisis virkštenis
Pl: Kolczurka klapowana
Sv: Taggreva
Synonyms
- Sicyos lobatus (Michx.)
- Micrampelis lobata ((Michx.) Greene)
- Echinocystis echinata ((Muhl. ex Willd.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.)
- Hexameria echinata ((Muhl. ex Willd.) Torr. & A.Gray)
- Momordica echinata (Muhl. ex Willd.)
Distribution
- Alberta (native)
- Arizona (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- Utah (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Altay (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Buryatiya (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Irkutsk (introduced)
- Kazakhstan (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Kirgizstan (introduced)
- Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
- Manchuria (introduced)
- North Caucasus (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Transcaucasus (introduced)
- Tuva (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- Yakutskiya (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
Fruit
Taken Sep 4, 2022 by azalizh (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 25, 2022 by eliana eliana sevianu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Hallie Carter (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 18, 2021 by Eiris (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 6, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Aug 28, 2020 by Václav (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 14, 2021 by Jacek Ochmiński (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 3, 2021 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 15, 2021 by marie fernandes (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Aug 10, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 14, 2022 by Tomaž Jančar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 12, 2022 by Quirin Pils (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 28, 2020 by Václav (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 11, 2022 by Mati (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 14, 2022 by Radosław Urban (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2021 by greenus thumbus (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Владимир Рагузов (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 26, 2021 by Andrea Leindl (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 28, 2020 by Václav (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Aug 18, 2016 by Andrei Contiu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 10, 2016 by Andrei Contiu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 13, 2019 by Eliška (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5331404)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:292597-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) Torr. & A.Gray)
Specifications
Growth habit: Vine, Forb/herb