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Cucurbitaceae
Echinocystis

not marked as a favorite taxon Echinocystis lobata (Michaux) Torrey & A. Gray. Common name: Wild Balsam-apple, Wild-cucumber. Phenology: May-Oct. Habitat: Bottomland forests and thickets. Distribution: New Brunswick west to Saskatchewan, south to nw. North Carolina, Georgia (?), Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, F, FNA6, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K1, K4, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, Tat, Tx, Va, W, WV; = Micrampelis lobata (Michx.) Greene — S. Basionym: Sicyos lobatus Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: = Echinocystis lobata - FNA6

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image #1 of Echinocystis lobata© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Echinocystis lobata© Chase Mathey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Chase Mathey source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Echinocystis lobata© Erik Danielson source
image #4 of Echinocystis lobata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Echinocystis lobata© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Echinocystis lobata© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Echinocystis lobata© Chase Mathey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Chase Mathey source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Echinocystis lobata© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Echinocystis lobata© Michael John Oldham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Michael John Oldham source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Echinocystis lobata© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Echinocystis lobata© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Echinocystis lobata© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Echinocystis lobata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Echinocystis lobata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Echinocystis lobata© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: A vining annual of bottomland forests and thickets

Stems: Stems angular, smooth, with 3-forked tendrils arising from leaf axils that entwine surrounding vegetation.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, long-petiolate, round in overall outline, to 7 in. wide, palmately 3- to 7-lobed, rough on upper surface.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Male and female flowers separate, white to cream, 1/2 in. wide, with 6 long-tapering, fringed petals. Male flowers in 4- to 8-in.-long erect racemes arising opposite the leaves and with a short column of pale-yellow-tipped stamens in the center; 1 to a few short-stalked female flowers sit at the base of the male flower cluster and consist of a short, blunt stigma and bloated, spiny ovary beneath the petals.

Fruits: Fruit a spiny, oval pod.

Comments:

Height: 2-10 ft. (long)

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: A vining annual of bottomland forests and thickets

stems: Stems angular, smooth, with 3-forked tendrils arising from leaf axils that entwine surrounding vegetation.

leaves: Leaves alternate, long-petiolate, round in overall outline, to 7 in. wide, palmately 3- to 7-lobed, rough on upper surface.

inflorescence:

flowers: Male and female flowers separate, white to cream, 1/2 in. wide, with 6 long-tapering, fringed petals. Male flowers in 4- to 8-in.-long erect racemes arising opposite the leaves and with a short column of pale-yellow-tipped stamens in the center; 1 to a few short-stalked female flowers sit at the base of the male flower cluster and consist of a short, blunt stigma and bloated, spiny ovary beneath the petals.

fruits: Fruit a spiny, oval pod.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: