Native Plants
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Monday - September 30, 2013
From: Theresa, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identity of vine in New York
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hey there. I've recently found a "Wild Cucumber" vine in my backyard, which has been taking over our electric fence. Now I've stumbled across another very similar vine. They fruits are clustered together, in a bunch. Very small, not even an inch long, with large white seeds inside. They're also slightly spiny, but I'm unsure of how firm they are. They tend to stick to gloves rather well. When I first saw them, they reminded me of the "everlasting gobstoppers" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, only instead of varying colors, they're just green.ANSWER:
Here is information about Echinocystis lobata (Wild cucumber) and here are more photos and information from Robert W. Freckman Herbarium University of Wisconsin.
I think your other vine must be Sicyos angulatus (One-seed burr cucumber). Here are more photos and information from Illinois Wildflowers and from Discover Life. You are right—they do resemble "Everlasting Gobstoppers", only all green.
From the Image Gallery
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