[GHS Week #4 Wildflowers]
#37. Wild Cucumber
Marah oreganus
Family:
Gourd Family
Habitat:
Open woods or fields
Characteristics:
1. Long trailing or climbing vines.
2. Maple-like leaves and branched tendrils on stems.
3. Star-shaped white flowers, staminate or pistillate, in
clusters. May bloom.
4. Round fleshy, hairy green fruit.
Uses:
1. Fruit is said to be poisonous!
The spiny cucumbers of wild cucumber are about
the size of a hardball, and their seeds are extremely poisonous!
Wild cucumber tendrils, used to grip other plants to hold the cucumber upright
or help it climb!
[GHS Week #4 Wildflowers]
Slichter