Citation: A. Rich. in Bory, Dict. Class. Hist. Nat. 6:19 (1824).

Synonymy: Momordica elaterium L., Sp. Pl. 1010 (1753).

Common name: Squirting cucumber.

Description:
Stems trailing; leaves with petioles 5-15 cm long; lamina triangular to ovate, 8-20 x 6-15 cm; cordate, undulate, obtuse, pubescent with dense white hairs on the lower surface, scabrid on the upper surface.

Male flowers in racemes to 20 cm long; peduncle 5-15 cm long; pedicels 1-3 cm long; hypanthium 2-3 mm long; calyx lobes 3-5 mm long; corolla lobes 8-12 cm long, yellow; female flowers on peduncles 5-30 mm long; ovary 6-15 cm long; fruit 30-45 x 15-20 mm diam.; peduncle to 18 cm long.

seeds c. 5 mm long, dark-brown.

Published illustration: Morley & Toelken (1983) Flowering plants in Australia, fig. 60d-e; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 626.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NL, MU, SL, SE.   N.S.W.; Vic.   native to the Mediterraean region and south-western Asia. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: summer.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available