Cyclanthera brachystachya, the exploding cucumber (but not to be confused with Ecballium elaterium), in the cucurbit or gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), is a herbaceous vine usually grown for its curiosity value, but the fruit is also edible.[1]
| Exploding cucumber | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Cyclanthera |
| Species: | C. brachystachya
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyclanthera brachystachya (DC.) Cogn.
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| Synonyms | |
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Cyclanthera explodens Naudin | |
The unusual fruit are bilaterally symmetrical, bulbous and spiny. They explode when ripe as a means of seed dispersal.
Origin and distribution
editThe plant is endemic from Southern Mexico through Colombia and Ecuador.[1]
Food uses
editThe fruit can be used raw when small (less than 2 cm) in salads, or cooked when mature (2.5 cm, exploded).[2]
Cultivation
editIt is propagated by its puzzle piece -shaped seed, and grown in conditions similar to other cucurbits like cucumbers and melons. It prefers warm, hot climates with regular watering. Once established the vine can grow quickly up to 10–15 feet. Although preferably grown over some kind of support, it can also be grown along the ground. The plant produces both male and female flowers on the same plant in mid-summer.[3]
Photos
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Plant -
Fruit -
exploded fruit -
Shoot -
Tendril -
Seeds
References
edit- ^ a b "Exploding Cucumber - Cyclanthera explodens". tradewindsfruit.com.
- ^ "Cucumber Vegetable Seeds to buy in the UK from The Real Seed Catalogue". realseeds.co.uk.
- ^ Realfood. "achocha". growyourown.info.
External links
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Media related to Cyclanthera brachystachya at Wikimedia Commons