Wild Cucumber (Manroot)

Description:

Wild cucumber is a climbing and trailing perennial that grows from a large woody or fleshy underground root weighing as much as 100lbs. It is because of this root that it is sometimes called manroot, and also that it is one of the first plants to reseed after a fire. The unripe, green fruits typically ripen into non-edible, yellow to brown fruits. The large leaves are palmetedly lobed, with five to seven lobes. The alternate leaves are 5-7 palmately lobed, heart-shaped, and up to 4" across. Tendrils used for anchoring the plant grow opposite the leaves. The male and female flowers are separate but on the same plant, and are white with five petals. The male flowers appear on specialized stems in racemes of 5-20, and the somewhat larger female flower from which the fruit develops arises at the base of that stem. The fruit is a green, ovoid gourd to 5" long densely covered with stiff flattened prickles sometimes with a sharp beak at the end and containing 4-16 oblong brown to tan seeds. Wild cucumber begins sending up rapidly-growing shoots in December and may begin blooming in January, continuing through April.

Habitat:

It is a common plant of dry areas of chaparral, washes, roadsides below 3000' and may also be found in coastal sage scrub and foothill woodland communities.

Notes:

The USDA has determined that these plants do not grow in California, Nevada and some other Eastern states of the USA. I think they may need to update their records for this is not the first time someone has come from California with Wild Cucumber photos from their backyards :) Medicinal Uses: Marah fabaceus is used to treat rheumatism and venereal disease. Sometimes the raw root was rubbed directly over the ailing parts. It was roasted, a paste made of its ashes, and applied in a plaster or a poultice to the patient’s flesh, there to remain until blisters formed as a certain sign that a cure was underway. Other Uses: Hair. The crushed seeds, mixed with oil, have been rubbed on the hair to prevent baldness. Known Hazards : The root is said to be poisonous to fish. Whether or not it is toxic to mammals is not very clear. Disclaimer: The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.