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CURCUBITALES
Ecballium elaterium (L.) A.Rich.
Links:
ShootGardening
UKWildFlowers
ShootGardening
UKWildFlowers
Curcubitaceae
The Squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) is a common plant with small yellowish
monoecious flowers and large oblong fruits. The chordate leaves are rough, hairy and
sticky. The fruits, when ripe, ‘explode’ at the slightest touch and deliver the seeds and a
mucilaginous mix at high speed as a squirt of liquid. The plant is host to the coccinellids
of the genus Henosepilachna (elaterii and argus).
Ecballium elaterium - leaves
Wied il-Qlejgha
28/11/12
28/11/12
Detail of fruits
Ecballium elaterium leaf detail with coccinellid
feeding on leaf (Henosepilachna sp.)
Ecballium elaterium - flower