Bur Cucumber

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, Weeds of the Great Plains; p. 218, 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
a close relative wild cucumber (p. 218, Weeds of the Northeast) has smoother stems, star-shaped leaves and a single, larger, bur-like pod
another relative is buffalo gourd (p. 273, 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