Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_3251.JPG-07-31-2022
Flower name (scientific): Echinocystis lobata (André Michaux) Torrey & A. Gray PY: 1840. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ek-i-no-SIS-tis (or ek-i-noh-SIS-tis or ek-in-o-SIS-tis or ek-eye-no-SIS-tis) low-BAY-tah
Flower name (common): Wild Cucumber
Family name (common): Cucumber
Family name (scientific): Cucurbitaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From Greek echinos meaning hedgehog and kystis meaning bladder, referring to the prickly fruit.
    Specific epithet: Having lobes, referring to the appearance of the leaves.
Common name origin: From the habitat. The second part probably arises from the supposed resemblance to the creeping vine Cucumis sativus, which is the source of the vegetable cucumber.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.3 to 0.5 inches (8 to 13 mm)
     Petal count: 6
     Color: white
     Other: flower arrangement, None
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 200 inches (61 to 508 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, broadly ovate to nearly circular in outline, palmately moderately 5-lobed (MB)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): July to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Riparian woods, forests, thickets, disturbed areas, roadsides, marshes, lake shores, streambanks, moist to wet, semi shade to sun.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any):
Ethnobotany: The Menominee prepared a poultice from the root of this plant and used it to treat headaches. The plant was also used to prepare love potions (Smith, pp. 33-34, 1923). The Ojibwe prepared a tea from the roots which they used for stomach problems (Smith, p. 367, 1932).
Latitude: 44.791858
Longitude: -91.528403
Altitude: 241.60
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Sicyos lobatus André Michaux Fl. Bor.-Amer. (Michaux) 2: 217 (1803).
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACW
Wetland Status (MW): FACW