Ecballium Elaterium
Family: Cucurbitaceae
English: Squirting Cucumbers
Pliny claims that this plant is another wonder of nature as its fruits, when ripe, explode suddenly and violently at the point of attachment, squirting the seeds out. This is a perennial, slightly bushy plant and fairly common in Greece.
The leaves are palm-like, bristly and hairy. Its flowers are small, pale-yellow and attached to the base of the leaves. It grows in heath and waste places, and flowers from April to September. Its fruits are green, oblong and bristly, like small cucumbers.
In antiquity the fruits were known as "wild cucumbers" wherefrom a juice was extracted for the treatment of the eyes and skin.
Currently, this plant is known to be poisonous and it is not commended for any kind of treatment.
Popular Greek names:
"Pikragouria", "Petragouria".
