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WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Squirting Cucumber - Ecballium elaterium subsp. elaterium

Favourite Photos

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Squirting Cucumber Squirting Cucumber - Ecballium elaterium subsp. elaterium dylan Horfield Common 31 May 2025, 4:35 p.m. 30 May 2025, 8:53 p.m.
Squirting Cucumber Squirting Cucumber - Ecballium elaterium subsp. elaterium dylan Horfield Common 11 Jan 2025, 1:56 a.m. 10 Jan 2025, 4 p.m.
Squirting Cucumber Squirting Cucumber - Ecballium elaterium subsp. elaterium dylan Horfield Common 11 Jan 2025, 1:56 a.m. 10 Jan 2025, 4:01 p.m.
Squirting Cucumber Squirting Cucumber - Ecballium elaterium subsp. elaterium dylan Horfield Common 11 Jan 2025, 1:56 a.m. 10 Jan 2025, 4:01 p.m.
Squirting Cucumber Squirting Cucumber - Ecballium elaterium subsp. elaterium dylan Horfield Common 11 Jan 2025, 1:56 a.m. 10 Jan 2025, 4:01 p.m.

Species Description

A native of the Mediterranean which is sometimes grown in gardens for intrigue of its exploding fruits but very rarely escapes or becomes naturalised. When ripe, the fruits become pumped full of liquid, building up pressure until they burst, forcing the fruit to break away explosively, ejecting its seeds everywhere.

Useful Links:

Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora

Plants For A Future

Wikipedia

RHS

Kew

GBIF

NBN