Squirting cucumber

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Squirting Cucumber
• squirting-cucumber
• exploding cucumber

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bryonia elaterium
• Momordica elaterium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Cucurbitales, it is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified under the genus Ecballium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is found in Germany as well as the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. The species also inhabits the landscape of Hungary within the central part of the continent. Finally, in Southwestern Europe, the plant is located among the Baleares islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ecballium elaterium is characterized by its preference for lowland environments, where it typically colonizes disturbed or open landscapes. It thrives in xeric, Mediterranean-type habitats, frequently appearing in sandy or gravelly soils, coastal dunes, and along the margins of roadsides or abandoned agricultural lands. This plant is well-adapted to high levels of solar radiation and can tolerate relatively arid conditions, often occupying nitrogen-rich, disturbed sites that offer minimal competition from dense vegetation. Its presence is often linked to warm, sunny microclimates within these lowland regions, where its specialized mechanism for seed dispersal relies on the sudden expulsion of liquid contents to reach new, unoccupied patches of suitable soil.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Ecballium elaterium is characterized by its classification as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle primarily through the production of seeds that persist during unfavorable conditions. While its lifecycle is described as variable—potentially manifesting as an annual, biennial, or perennial species depending on environmental stability and local ecological pressures—it frequently operates within a lifespan of 1 year. As a therophyte, the plant's biological strategy focuses on rapid growth and reproductive output, utilizing its seasonal presence to thrive before retreating into a seed bank to survive periods of dormancy.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Lifespan :

1

Morphology

The morphology of Ecballium elaterium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial habitat. The plant typically exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit rather than being an obligatory liana or vine. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.8 m. Its shoot orientation is primarily prostrate, with shoot lengths extending from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 100 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot length max:

100 cm

Shoot length min:

20 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ecballium elaterium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits notable succulence, a physiological adaptation that aids in water storage and moisture retention. Its foliage displays significant morphological variability in dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. The leaf width also shows a broad spectrum of development, with a minimum width of 3.5 cm, a maximum width of 15 cm, and a mean width of approximately 18 cm, reflecting a diverse structural profile in its vegetative growth.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

18 cm

Leaf width min:

3.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Ecballium elaterium is driven by sexual reproduction through a monoecious system, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes within the same month, featuring yellow flowers that rely on a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically mediated by insects. To ensure genetic diversity, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Once pollination is successful, the plant develops fruits that generally range from 3 to 4.5 cm in length and 1.5 to 2 cm in width. These fruits are highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are consistent in size, with a mean length of 5 mm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 5 mm) and a mean mass of 0.01088 g, though individual seed mass can vary between 0.0054 g and 0.01881 g. Following maturation, the plant employs an autochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing an explosive mechanism to distribute its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed length mean:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01881 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01088 g

Seed mass min:

0.0054 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ecballium elaterium has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root.

Fruit

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Chemico-biological interactions
4. Steroids
5. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Root

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Ecballium elaterium has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cucurbitacin E, CUE, Cucurbitacin B, Cucurbitacins, Flavonoid.

Cucurbitacin E

1. Steroids
2. Fitoterapia

CUE

1. Steroids

Cucurbitacin B

1. Journal of natural products

Cucurbitacins

1. Fitoterapia

Flavonoid

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Tannin

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

phenol

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Ecballium elaterium has 5 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiproliferative, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Apoptotic, Cytotoxic.

Antiproliferative

1. Steroids
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Anticancer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Apoptotic

1. Steroids

Cytotoxic

1. Steroids

Medicinal Uses

Ecballium elaterium has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include sinusitis, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, epilepsy, fibrosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations