Wild Cucumber

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Wild Cucumber has both male and female flowers on the same plant. Individual male flowers are ½ inch across, star shaped with 6 thin greenish white petals, on a 4 to 8 inch long spike. The spikes are at the end of a stem that is attached at the leaf joints. An inconspicuous single female flower sits at the base of the male flower stem.

Leaves:

Leaves are nearly as wide as they are long, up to 7 inches across, with 5 angular lobes. The shape is similar to a maple leaf. There are tiny widely spaced teeth all around the edges. Branching tendrils are attached opposite the leaf stem.

Fruit:

A single large pod-like container covered with spines forms at the base of the flower stem. Each pod is up to 2 inches long and holds 4 seeds. The pod looks like a spiny watermelon.

Notes:

Wild Cucumber is easily distinguished from Bur Cucumber by the flower shape. Both grow in similar habitats around the same time, but Wild Cucumber blooms a little earlier. Wild Cucumber is hairless, Bur Cucumber has a hairy stem. Bur Cucumber also has a cluster of pods, each rather smaller than Wild Cucumber's.

More photos

• Wild Cucumber vine
• a mass of Wild Cucumber
• fruit just starting to form 

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, and Pioneer Park, Blaine, MN, July-September 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?