Marah Oregana, Wild Cucumber

Day 247: Don't be fooled by the name. The small spiny fruits of Wild Cucumber (Marah oregana) are not edible. In fact, all parts of the plant contain cucurbitacins, compounds which can cause severe gastrointestinal reactions. Like many other cucurbits, Marah (an alternate common name) is a vine. The curling tendrils it produces will be familiar to anyone who has ever grown cucumbers or squash, and allow the plant to climb fences or any other available support (a tightly curled mass of tendrils can be seen in the photo just to the right of the unopened buds at the top of the inflorescence). Male and female flowers are borne on the same plant, generally with a spike (raceme) of male flowers appearing above a single female flower in the axil. Plants are self-fertile, and pollination is done by a variety of insects. Fruits can be up to three inches long by two inches in diameter, are dotted with spines in varying degree, and contain a few large seeds which are released when the "cucumber" ripens and bursts. The plant is also known as Manroot (Man-root or Bigroot) for its large tubers.