What is That Strange Looking Fruit?
The Latin name for the wild cucumber, Echinocystis lobata, means hedgehog bladder and perfectly describes the strange fruit of this plant. Inside the fruit are 4 brown or black seeds that are eventually shot out of the plant by hydrostatic pressure at speeds up to 25 mph! This viney plant is a member of the gourd family and has tiny, white flowers from July to late August. It’s found in moist soils near the trails at CWES.
