Authentic Wisconsin.  Wild Cucumber - Echinocystis lobata


Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on August 22, 2019.


Above: Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin. (8/22/19).


Wild Cucumber - Echinocystis lobata

Wild Cucumber is a native, herbaceous vine that can be as long as 26' and which climbs, with the help of coiling, branched tendrils, over shrubs and fences or trail across the ground. Wild Cucumber likes wet to moist areas including streambanks, thickets and roadsides.

Separate male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. The flowers of Wild Cucumber are pale yellowish-white, 6-parted and about 1/3" wide ("star-like" with thin, long petals). The male flowers form in clusters on a long, erect raceme from the leaf axils. The female flowers occur singly or in pairs interspersed among the male flowers. The female flowers have a prickly ovary beneath the petals, which develops into the spiny fruit.

Blooms July-Sept.

Other Names: Balsam-apple, Bur cucumber.

Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on August 22, 2019.


Above: Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street on August 22, 2019.




WILD CUCUMBER
by Scottish author, Elizabeth Gordon

Wild Cucumber said he guessed,

He'd take a little trip out West,

Thought he'd stay a year or two,

And maybe he'd see something new.




For more information on Wild Cucumber, visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Wild Cucumber - Echinocystis lobata.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension website page about Wild Cucumber - Echinocystis lobata.


Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on August 28, 2018.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on August 28, 2018.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on August 22, 2019.
Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 14, 2020.
Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 14, 2020.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on September 15, 2020.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on November 23, 2020.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on December 2, 2019.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on December 2, 2019.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on December 2, 2019.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on December 2, 2019.
Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on December 2, 2019.
Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 13, 2021.
Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 13, 2021.
Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 13, 2021.
Wild Cucumber on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.
Wild Cucumber on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.
Wild Cucumber on shore of Marion Dunn Pond in Madison, Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.
Wild Cucumber in Oak Savanna in Madison, Wisconsin on November 20, 2021.
Wild Cucumber in Oak Savanna in Madison, Wisconsin on November 20, 2021.
Wild Cucumber in Oak Savanna in Madison, Wisconsin on November 20, 2021.
Wild Cucumber in Oak Savanna in Madison, Wisconsin on November 25, 2021.
Wild Cucumber in Oak Savanna in Madison, Wisconsin on November 25, 2021.

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Wisconsin Wildflowers


Wild Cucumber
Echinocystis lobata


Wild Cucumber climbing up tree in UW Arboretum along Arboretum Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on August 23, 2022.

Above: Wild Cucumber climbing up tree in UW Arboretum along Arboretum Drive in Madison, Wisconsin (8/23/22).


Wild Cucumber in UW Arboretum by Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on August 5, 2021.

Above: Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street. (8/23/21).


Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 13, 2021.

Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street in Madison, Wisconsin on August 13, 2021.

Above: Wild Cucumber off of bike path behind Gregory Street. (8/23/21).


Wild Cucumber in UW Arboretum by Wingra Park in Madison, Wisconsin on August 20, 2021.

Above: Wild Cucumber just starting to form a cuke. (8/20/21).


Wild Cucumber in Oak Savanna in Madison, Wisconsin on November 20, 2021.

Above: Wild Cucumber (11/20/21).


Wild Cucumber in UW Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin on November 28, 2019.

Above: Wild Cucumber (11/28/19).


Wild Cucumber at edge of woods on Arbor Drive in Madison, Wisconsin on November 28, 2019.

Above: Wild Cucumber (11/29/19).


1913 Wild Cucumber USDA illustration.

Above: 1913 Wild Cucumber illustration.


Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) illustration by Alice Lounsberry circa 1899.

Above: Microampelis lobata (Mock Apple) illustration by Alice Lounsberry circa 1899.

Wild Cucumber Flower Children by Elizabeth Gordon with illustration by  M. T. (Penny) Ross.

Wild Cucumber specimen collected on August 10,2013 in Waunakee in Dane County.

Above: Wild Cucumber specimen collected on August 10, 2013 in Waunakee in Dane County.


Wild Cucumber.

Wild Cucumber.

Wild Cucumber.

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