Bur Cucumber, Burcucumber

(Sicyos angulatus L.)

Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbit Family, Squash Family)

vine on fence▲

fruit cluster▲

flower cluster, tendrils▲

flowers▲

mature vine with flowers, fruit▲▼

flower and fruit cluster▲

Burcucumber: (pp. 278-279 in Weeds of the Great Plains, pp. 218 in Weeds of the Northeast)

·                     summer annual vine that climbs by use of tendrils in the Cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae) Family

·                     stems, leaves are round-textured, hairy, with strong odor if bruised

·                     flowers are small, whitish, in clusters

·                     fruit is a cluster of small, bur-like pods

o   a close relative wild cucumber (p. 218 in Weeds of the Northeast) has smoother stems, star-shaped leaves and a single, larger, bur-like pod

o   another relative is buffalo gourd (p. 273 in Weeds of  Nebraska) which is a simple perennial with large, thick, blue-green leaves, small yellow flowers and about 3-4” round ball-like, striped green gourd fruit; has a large tap root; stems & leaves have a strong odor if bruised—this plant is usually not a weed problem—more common in fertile, dry prairie soils