Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Bur
Cucumber
Sicyos angulatus
[C-value
5]
Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)
Blooms August -
mid-October
The native Bur Cucumber is uncommon in our area. It prefers full or partial sun and moist fertile soil. Habitats include openings in floodplain forests, moist meadows and banks of ditches. It is an annual vine up to 25' long that develops multiple lanky hairy stems. The alternate leaves are up to 8" long and across with 3-5 palmate lobes and slightly toothed. Branched tendrils and racemes of flowers occur opposite the leaves along the vine. Both male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. The male flowers tend to bloom in small clusters toward the apex of the raceme. Each is about 1/3" across with a greenish white corolla with 5 spreading petals. Each female flower has a large ovary that is enclosed within an oval-shaped fruit about ½" long covered with sharp spines and long white hairs.
Bur Cucumber at Millbrook South Forest Preserve woods edge September 30, 2014
Bur Cucumber at Millbrook South Forest Preserve woods edge September 30, 2014
Bur Cucumber at Millbrook South Forest Preserve woods edge September 30, 2014
Bur Cucumber at Millbrook South Forest Preserve woods edge September 30, 2014
Bur Cucumber seeds at Millbrook South Forest Preserve woods edge September 30, 2014
Bur Cucumber at Millbrook South Forest Preserve woods edge September 30, 2014
Click here for more information.
Copyright © 2011-2017 by Kendall County Forest Preserve District. All Rights Reserved.