SQUIRTING CUCUMBER

(Ecballium elaterium), trailing herbaceous plant, of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to the Mediterranean region but introduced into other areas as a garden curiosity for its distinctive fruits. The hairy, rough, thick- stemmed plant may spread out to about 60 cm (about 24 inches). It has yellow, bell-shaped flowers. The long-stalked, bluish green fruits, about 4 to 5 cm long, explosively eject their brown seeds as they detach from the stem upon reaching maturity. The seeds may travel 3 to 6 m (about 10 to 20 feet) from the plant.