The Cucumber Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington
(This family is sometimes known as the Gourd Family.)
Cucurbitaceae
Bigroot, Coastal Manroot, Manroot, Old Man-in-the-ground, Oregon Bigroot, Wild Cucumber: Marah oregana (Synonyms: Echinocystis oregana, Marah oreganus) - Viny plant that grows along ground or climbs into trees with many spiralled tendrils. Leaves simple and palmate, with small 5 petaled flowers arising in loose spikes from the vines. Fruit is like a spiny cucumber or squash.