Male flowers, UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine CA 2-27-09. © Joan Avise

Wild Cucumber
(Cucamonga Manroot)

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
Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History 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