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WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

27.) CUCURBITACEAE - White Bryony family

CUCURBITACEAE - White Bryony family

BRYONIA L.

  • Bryonia dioica Jacq. (B. cretica L. ssp. dioica (Jacq.) Tutin) (White Bryony) / Woodland Widespread in hedgerows, scrub and woodland edge; predominantly on limestone. It appears to have declined. In the past this plant was sometimes called Mandrake by the 'unlearned' after its large root which was also used for medicinal purposes, including as a cure for leprosy. Gerard (1597) says "chiefe Chirurgion, a very curious and learned gentleman, shewed me a roote heereof that waied halfe an hundred waight [about 25 kg], of the bignesse of a childe of a yeere olde" and was used to prevent "wrinckles, freckles or sunne-burning".

SICYOS L.

  • Sicyos angulatus L. (Bur Cucumber) 1964 General A native of Eastern North America. Was apparently recorded in 1964 according to the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000).

[Can't locate record]

ECBALLIUM A. Rich.

  • Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. (ssp. elaterium) (Squirting Cucumber) - General Very Rare A very rare garden escape which is occasionally grown for its intriguing fruits which burst like a water rocket when nudged, dispersing seeds everywhere. Recorded at Horfield Common in 2025 by D. Peters. It was formerly established for a short time at Wyck Quarry from 1980 to 1983 (first recorded by D.E. Green and last by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen).

CUCUMIS L.

  • Cucumis melo L. (Melon) - General Extinct Recorded at Weston-super-Mare? in 1970s by ? [BSBI record] and found occurring in small quantity at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1995 and 1996 by R.J. Higgins and J.P. Martin.

CITRULLUS Schrad.

  • Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (Water Melon) - General Extinct First recorded at Ashton Gate in 1934 by C.I. Sandwith?; then at Weston-Super-Mare? in 1970s by ?; East of Bristol in 1970s by ? [BSBI records]; and last seen in small quantity at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1995 and 1996 by R.J. Higgins and J.P. Martin.

CUCURBITA L.

  • Cucurbita pepo L. (Marrow) - General Very Rare Widely grown in gardens and allotments. First found at Weston-Super-Mare? in 1970s by ? [BSBI record]; recorded annually at Avonmouth Sewage Works between 1990 and 1996 by R.J. Higgins and J.P. Martin; at Portishead? in 1990s by ? [BSBI record]; at Pilning in 2013 by ?; Claverham, North Somerset in 2013 by ?; at Langford in 2020s by ? [BSBI record]; and most recently a single plant of a round-fruited cultivar was encountered on a manure heap at Walton Moor in 2025 by D. Peters.

  • Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam. (Pumpkin) 1984 - General Very Rare Widely grown in gardens and allotments but surprisingly rare considering how popular they are now as an American adopted tradition for Halloween. The standard pumpkin sold in supermarkets for carving is the cultivar 'Jack O'Lantern' which actually belongs to C. pepo and school kids have a habit of smashing them on roads around Bristol in the aftermath. First recorded in 1984 according to the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000); then at Shiplate, North Somerset in 1998 by ?; at Bishopston, North Bristol in 2020 by ?; and most recently a large fruit-bearing plant of the cultivar 'Tonda Padana' was found at Temple Meads in 2025 by D. Peters.

C. maxima is thought to have become domesticated from the wild C. andreana (a native of Uruguay and Argentina) around 4000 years ago.

  • Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (Squash) General Very Rare A heavily crushed young plant of 'Butternut' was found outside the Arnolfini Cafe Bar, beside the Bristol harbour in 2025 by D. Peters. A first record for the region. In the horticultural and culinary world, the names squash and pumpkin are used interchangeably and most squash cultivars belong to C. maxima. C. moschata differs in its more scarcely lobed leaves which are often white-veined and diagnostically, the pedicel is abruptly swollen at its base (i.e. the top of the fruit) creating a bulbous disc-like appearance.

to make matters even more confusing, the standard pumpkin sold in supermarkets for Halloween actually belongs to C. pepo.

List:

  • Bryonia dioica Jacq. (B. cretica L. ssp. dioica (Jacq.) Tutin - Kew, GBIF) (White Bryony) / Woodland
  • Sicyos angulatus L. (Bur Cucumber) 1964 General
  • Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. (ssp. elaterium - Kew, GBIF) (Squirting Cucumber) - General
  • Cucumis melo L. (Melon) - General
  • Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (Water Melon) - General
  • Cucurbita pepo L. (Marrow) - General
  • Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam. (Pumpkin) 1984 - General
  • Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (Squash) General

Species added by me:

  • Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (Squash)