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Ecballium elaterium - (L.)A.Rich.

Common Name Squirting Cucumber
Family Cucurbitaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards Poisonous in large quantities[7] (this probably refers to the fruit). The juice of the fruit is irritative to some skins[148].
Habitats Hot dry places on waste ground and roadsides[45, 86], usually close to the coast[7].
Range Europe - Mediterranean. Naturalized in Britain at a few locations along the south coast[17].
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Ecballium elaterium Squirting Cucumber


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gc3_ecballium_elaterium.jpg
Ecballium elaterium Squirting Cucumber
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Carstor

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Ecballium elaterium is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Abortifacient  Analgesic  Antirheumatic  Cardiac  Kidney  Purgative

The squirting cucumber has been used as a medicinal plant for over 2,000 years, though it has a very violent effect upon the body and has little use in modern herbalism[238, 268]. The juice of the fruit is antirheumatic, cardiac and purgative[1, 7, 61, 86, 89]. The plant is a very powerful purgative that causes evacuation of water from the bowels[238]. It is used internally in the treatment of oedema associated with kidney complaints, heart problems, rheumatism, paralysis and shingles[86, 238]. Externally, it has been used to treat sinusitis and painful joints[238]. It should be used with great caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[4, 238]. Excessive doses have caused gastro-enteritis and even death[7]. It should not be used by pregnant women since it can cause an abortion[7]. The fully grown but unripe fruits are harvested during the summer, they are left in containers until the contents are expelled and the juice is then dried for later use[46, 238]. The root contains an analgesic principle[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist well-drained soil in a sunny position[86, 200]. Grows best in a rich soil[1]. Another report says that it succeeds in poor soils[238]. The foliage is fairly frost-tender, though the roots are much hardier and plants can survive quite cold winters in Britain[86]. They are more likely to be killed by excessive winter wet[86]. The squirting cucumber is sometimes cultivated for its use as a medicinal plant[46]. The ripening fruit becomes pumped full of liquid, leading to an increase in pressure. As the seed becomes ripe, this pressure forces the fruit to break away explosively from the plant, ejecting its seed to a considerable distance in the opposite direction. The plant occasionally self-sows in our Cornwall trial ground[K] and can become a weed in warmer climates than Britain[K]. It is subject to statutory control as a weed in Australia[238].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in rich compost in a greenhouse. Place 2 - 3 seeds per pot and thin to the strongest plant. The seed usually germinates in 10 - 21 days at 25°c[175]. Grow the plants on fast and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)A.Rich.

Botanical References

46200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Thu Dec 30 07:19:47 2004

This plant is found in Malta/Mediterranean basin/Europe

More comprehensive details, medicinal properties, uses, botanical data, plant description and photogallery of high resolutions photos of this plant can be seen on an interesting website about the wild plants of Malta: www.maltawildplants.com

Link: Malta Wild Plants Website and photography by Stephen Mifsud, Malta

   Dec 1 2010 12:00AM

Juice of the fruit has been used as cure for Hepatitis. The fruit is squeezed in a clean cloth, and a drop of the juice inhaled through each nostril, twice to three times a day. The resulting EXCESSIVE amounts of yellow mucus discharge is normal and expected and jaundice subsides within 3-4 days and liver function restored. This is a very old treatment people have used in Southern Mediterranean. It is important NOT to exceed the amount of the juice used, as it is toxic in high doses.

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Subject : Ecballium elaterium  
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