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DESCRIPTION
Wild cucumbers, also called man-roots, are perennial broadleaf vines that may seasonally
die back above ground. Several native Marah species occur in California and are not considered
weedy in natural systems. These include Cucamonga man-root, Marah macrocarpus, and Marah
oreganum (pictured here). Wild cucumbers grow from a large underground stem tip
and have clinging tendrils that climb up and entwine shrubs and trees. Plants are named for their tuber
or for their distinctive greenish, round to oblong fruit capsules that contain seed. Depending on maturity
and species, these fruit are 1.2 to 8 inches (3–20
cm) long. Fruit develop from cup- or star-shaped flowers. These white blossoms occur in groups, except
singly early in the season when they begin to flower. Marah seedlings
develop a several-inch-long, swollen underground stem tip before producing any green leaves. Each leaf on
mature plants is several inches in diameter and has five to seven lobes. Cucumis myriocarpus is
also sometimes called wild cucumber and it has somewhat large green fruit. In comparison with Marah species, Cucumis species
fruit are covered with weak prickles and flowers are larger, 0.8 to 2.4 inches (2–12 cm) wide, and occur
singly or with just a few flowers each usually at a separate node. Marah species flowers are smaller,
0.8 inch (2 cm) or less wide, male flowers occur in clusters, and fruit are sparsely or densely covered with
straight or hooked prickles.
Broadleaf ID illustration.
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