Male flowers, UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine CA 2-27-09. © Joan Avise |
Wild Cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus Vines emerge from a large, hard tuberous root which can reach several meters in length and weigh in excess of 100 kilograms (220 lb) (Wikipedia) Range extends from Santa Barbara and the Transverse Ranges in the west and north to Baja California and the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert in the south and east. Back to Cucurbitaceae of Orange County, California |
Vines grow very large covering surrounding vegetation, UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA 2-23-10. © Joan Avise |
Female flower with attached fruit, male flowers above, UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA 2-23-10. © Joan Avise |
Cluster of male flowers. UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA 2-23-10. © Joan Avise |
Cluster of male flowers. Arroyo Trabuco, Ladera Ranch, Orange County, CA. 2/22/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
Male flower. San Clemente St. Bch, 12-19-11. © Ron Vanderhoff |
Cluster of male flowers. Arroyo Trabuco, Ladera Ranch, Orange County, CA. 2/22/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
Male flower. Arroyo Trabuco, Ladera Ranch, Orange County, CA. 2/22/13. © Peter J. Bryant |
Female flower, UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA 2-23-10. © Joan Avise |
Female flower and developing fruit. San Clemente St. Park, 2-11-10. © Ron Vanderhoff |
Female flower and developing fruit. Hobo Cyn, Laguna Bch, 1-30-11. © Ron Vanderhoff |
Prickly gourd. Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Orange, CA 3-02-08. © Joan Avise |
Hanging gourds. Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Orange, CA. 3-18-06. © Joan Avise |