Ecballium
( )
At-A-Glance InformationCommonly known as the Squirting Cucumber or Touch-Me-Not plant, plants in this genus are famous for their ripe fruits squirting out liquid containing seeds as a means of dispersal. The single species in the genus is native to Europe, northern Africa, and temperate regions in Asia. It is commonly grown as both an ornamental plant and (less widely) as a crop plant.
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Ecballium Species and Varietals
The genus Ecballium is a member of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, and includes just one species. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Ecballium elaterium (Squirting Cucumber, Exploding Cucumber) These plants form herbaceous, vining plant that dies back to the ground each year, re-sprouting from a somewhat unpleasant-looking stump. Female flowers produce bristly fruits, becoming green-yellow with maturity. When they are ready to disperse seeds, they drop from their attachments and squirt out seed-laced liquid. Can be weedy and invasive in some environments. Although these plants are technically considered edible medicinal plants, they are used as a purgative and have quite violent effects on the human body. |
Caring for Cyclanthera
Harvesting Caigua and Exploding Cucumber
Propagation
Problems and Pests
?? plants are typically pest and disease free. For more information on common garden problems, including how to correct them, see the following links.
Gallery
The blooming season of this plant (February–March) is celebrated with the Mustard Festival, a series of festivities in the wine country of California (Napa and Sonoma Counties).[13]
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Videos
All about Lipstick Trees.
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How to care for a Lipstick Tree in the garden.
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Resources
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