Practical
Plants

Echinocystis lobata

Wild Cucumber

an annual member of the Echinocystis genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
8 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The pulverized root is used as a poultice for headaches[9][5]. A very bitter tea brewed from the roots is analgesic and is also used as a love potion[9][3][5]. It is used as a bitter tonic for alleviating stomach troubles, kidney ailments, rheumatism, chills, fevers etc[9][5][7].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seeds have been used as beads[7].

Product or use
Beads

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Saskatchewan and southwards.
Habitat
Rich soils by streams[8]. Thickets[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early spring in a rich compost in a greenhouse, placing 2 - 3 seeds in each pot. The seed usually germinates within 1 - 2 weeks at 20°c. Thin the seedlings to the best plant in each pot, grow them on fast and plant them out after the last expected frosts[2]. Give the plants some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing away well.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sunny position in a well-drained rich soil with abundant moisture[1][2]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[2]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by means of tendrils[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  4. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  5. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

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