Other common names:
Balsam Apple, Prickly Cucumber, Wild Balsam Apple Other scientific names: Micrampelis lobata, Momordica echinata, Sicyos lobata French names:
Éhinocystis lobé Family: Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae) Distinctive features:
Vine. Stubby, cucumber-like fruits (sort of). Similar species: • Canada Moonseed (Menispermum canadense) - woody vine, leaves not as lobed. • One-seeded Bur Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus) - smaller fruit, 5-petalled flowers. Flowers: Summer; White; 6 parts (petals); Mid to late summer (July-August). Leaves: Alternate, Simple Height:
Vine. Stem:
Vine. Fruit/Seeds:
Soft-prickly oval sphere, with hard dry seeds inside. Opens at the bottom when ripe and the seeds then fall out. Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas; Open forest edges. Grows in Sun/Shade:
Sun Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 356 Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 76 Native/Non-native:
Native Status: S-Rank: S5 G-Rank: G5
Common.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: : lobed Photographs:
90 photographs available, of which 15 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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