Echinocystis lobata (Wild Cucumber): Minnesota Wildflowers

Echinocystis lobata (Wild Cucumber)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:	Echinocystis
Family:	Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber)
Life cycle:	annual
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part shade, shade; moist woods, thickets, along streams
Bloom season:	July - September
Plant height:	2 to 10 foot vine
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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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.

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More photos

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

Comments

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

Posted by: randy b.
on: 2008-06-18 22:23:59

You should note that the flowers smell great. I know it is kind of weedy but we don't have all that many vines that smell as good as this one does. I'm trying to get some started in my garden.

This grows out at the Airport Dog Park in St. Paul. (along with the horrible Garlic Mustard) Every fall I just inhale the perfume.

Posted by: Ed in Snail Lake Regional Park
on: 2010-01-02 20:44:44

I believe I observed the wild cucumber plant and the decomposing seed pods on the eastern shores of Grass Lake in Snail Lake Regional Park. The seed pods were approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length. You can see a photo of one at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22342128@N05/

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-01-02 21:56:04

Yes, Ed, that is wild cucumber fruit.

Posted by: Deborah in Rochester
on: 2010-07-19 08:29:20

This wild cucumber came up from seed, and is growing in my garden. It started out small, and I was not sure what this beautiful looking "ivy" was -not it is huge and is taking over my garden. Are the cucumbers edible? How do you harvest?

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-07-19 15:54:41

I don't know much about edible plants, but according to the Plants for a Future database Echinocystis lobata is not edible.

Posted by: Nancy in Orrock, MN
on: 2010-08-29 12:15:14

We live in land bordering the Sand Dunes State Forest (SW end of Ann Lake). The Wild Cucumber is actually growing from disturbed mulch from a 10-year-old straw pile. We had no idea what it was until I googled "wild vine with spiked fruit."

Posted by: Russell in Ham Lake
on: 2010-09-03 14:40:20

We have them all over the place, even climbing to the top of pine,jack pine trees. They look like Xmas garland.

Posted by: NM in Maplewood
on: 2011-07-29 13:29:43

The fruit is NOT edible, but the tender leaves and tips ARE and they taste great stir-fried. Many Asian people living here eat them and even sell them, as they resemble Ivy Gourd(Tindora)plants in appearance and taste. You can sometimes catch hawkers selling them at the Como Market farmer's market. In fact, I just had some stir-fried with a little garlic and salt last week and it was euphoric.

Posted by: Sarah in Roseville
on: 2011-09-15 05:27:41

Dried vines with fruits still attached make great Halloween decorations. The dried fruits are spiny so use caution around kids and pets. We string them in the garage to dry which makes it easier to clean up all the seeds that drop out of each fruit. The seeds are about the size of a pumpkin seed.