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Cucumis dipsaceus

Ehrenb. ex Spach (1838)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Cucumis

hedgehog gourd, teasel gourd, wild cucumber

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual climbing herb.

Stems: Stems up to several m long, hispid.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades cordate, reniform to broadly ovate with a basal sinus, blades 2–8 cm long, 3–9 cm wide, sometimes shallowly 3–lobed. Apex obtuse. Surfaces hispid. Margins denticulate. Petioles 2–10 cm long. Stipules absent; tendrils in the stipular position unbranched.

Flowers: Staminate flowers solitary or in clusters of 2–4, pedicels 6–12 mm long; pistillate flowers solitary, sometimes co-axillary with staminate flowers, pedicels 2–6 mm long. Flowers unisexual or rarely bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Calyx of staminate flowers 5-lobed, lobes linear, 2–3 mm long. Sepals inserted on hypanthium. Corolla of staminate flowers deeply 5-lobed, 7–12 mm long lanceolate to ovate, nectary disk gland-like; Corolla of pistillate flowers yellow, perianth as in staminate flowers. Staminate flowers: Stamens 3, inserted at about the middle of hypanthium, distinct, 2 of the anthers dithecal, the other monothecal, cells flexuous, connectives with apical appendages; anthers opening by longitudinal slits; pistillate flowers: staminodes 3. Ovary inferior, of a single carpel or 3-carpellate with carpels connate into a single 3-lobed cell, placentation parietal; ovules 1 to numerous per cell; pistillate flowers: ovules numerous; style inserted in an annular disk; stigma 3-lobed.

Fruit: Fruit yellow; subglobose to ellipsoid; 2–7 cm long; 1.5–3.5 cm in diameter; densely and softly spiny or bristly; spines slender; 3–8 mm long; pulp green; indehiscent. Seeds very pale brown; 3–5 mm long; numerous; elliptic; smooth; endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 24

Habitat: Widely naturalized in dry; disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: 0–400 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Hist. Nat. Vég. 6: 211 (1838)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:570 (Ni, K, O, L, M, Ka, H); Wysong et al. 2007:4 (Mo)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Cucumis dipsaceus Kawaihapai, Oahu, T.H Arid pasture; naturalized Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 9946 Oahu BISH 1935-07-15
2 Cucumis dipsaceus Naval Reservation, Lualualei Valley, end of Dent Street; by ammunitions magazine Exposed, arid. Assoc. w/Gomphocarpus physocarpus, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, Bidens pilosa, Cenchrus echinatus. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 491 Oahu BISH 1967-05-21
3 Cucumis dipsaceus Punaluu, Hawaii, T. Hawaii Arid lava flow. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6075 Hawaii BISH 1930-04-13
4 Cucumis dipsaceus Wailuku aeolian deposits, Maui, T. Hawaii Wailuku aeolian deposits. Arid region. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6071 Maui BISH 1927-07-09
5 Cucumis dipsaceus Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Southern Trap & Skeet Range on edge of Tripoli Road in mowed area. Preserved_Specimen Small solitary viny herb. Yellow flower. BISH staff 86 Oahu BISH 2021-05-17
6 Cucumis dipsaceus Gulch behind Beck's Cove on eastern side of island, climbing over rocks on side of dry streambed Climbing over rocks on side of dry streambed under dense canopy of Prosopis pallida trees. Preserved_Specimen VIne prostrate. Flowers yellow, fruit green. Cuddihy, L.W. 385 Kahoolawe BISH 1980-04-23
7 Cucumis dipsaceus Poipu, Waiohai ~25 acre vacant lot Preserved_Specimen sprawling vine; stems ridged or square; fuzzy pubesence on stems and leaves; tendrils; fruit yellow covered with soft spines Dunn, L. 306 Kauai BISH 2003-10-17
8 Cucumis dipsaceus Waimanalo, Oahu. T. Hawaii Arid region Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6067 Oahu BISH 1927-01-28
9 Cucumis dipsaceus Waianae Range; Makua Keaau Forest Reserve Lowland mesic forest Preserved_Specimen Vine: fruit yellow Annable, C.R. 3083 Oahu BISH 1996-10-25
10 Cucumis dipsaceus Growing along ground and over shrubs in dry, grassy area between rifle range at Koko Head and Kalanianaole Hwy Preserved_Specimen Vine with yellow flowers and fruit. Herbst, D.R. 756 Oahu BISH 1967-11-29
11 Cucumis dipsaceus Kuapa, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Vine. Native of Africa. Brown, F.B.H. 1312 Oahu BISH 1924-08-23
12 Cucumis dipsaceus Koko Head, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 15090 Oahu BISH 1909-06-11
13 Cucumis dipsaceus Kawaihapai, Oahu. Near the beach Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10005 Oahu BISH 1929-11-03
14 Cucumis dipsaceus East Maui, S Slope of Haleakala, above Nakaohu Preserved_Specimen Weed among rocks. Degener, O. 19290 Maui BISH 1948-12-23
15 Cucumis dipsaceus W Maui, Coast near Olowalu. 20.8 N 156.6 W Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620414004 Maui BISH 1962-04-14
16 Cucumis dipsaceus Kalaupapa; fence behind Quonset Preserved_Specimen climbing vine Wysong, M.L. 753 Molokai BISH 2005-04-07
17 Cucumis dipsaceus In camp area, Smugglers Cove Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 78.084 Kahoolawe BISH 1978-11-26
18 Cucumis dipsaceus Mana, Kauai, T. Hawaii. Roadside Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2093 Kauai BISH 1926-01-01
19 Cucumis dipsaceus East Maui at Nuu, below road, east side of rivermouth under Kiawe canopy Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2542 Maui BISH 2021-02-12
20 Cucumis dipsaceus Waiahukini. Growing in archeological sites, uncommon Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 10197 Hawaii BISH 1984-03-25
21 Cucumis dipsaceus East Maui at Nuu, Below road, east side of rivermouth under kiawe canopy Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2545 Maui BISH 2021-02-12
22 Cucumis dipsaceus Foster Botanic Garden Lowland mesic forest UNKNOWN . Coordinates do not match to country in source data. Not found a country in reverser geocoding. Bioversity International C. R. Annable Oahu HAPI 10/25/1996
23 Cucumis dipsaceus Barbers Point, Oahu Coral plain, near beach, roadside. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1937-08-08
24 Cucumis dipsaceus Sloaps of Salt Lake, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1909-02-18
25 Cucumis dipsaceus Honouliuli, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Bryan, W.A. Oahu BISH 1903-12-02
26 Cucumis dipsaceus Koko Head, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1909-06-11
27 Cucumis dipsaceus Along main road 20 miles from Waimea toward Kona, Hawaii Naturalized on a lava desert. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 30375 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-17
28 Cucumis dipsaceus Coral Flats Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1957-02-24
29 Cucumis dipsaceus Ewa Beach, light house Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1956-12-16
30 Cucumis dipsaceus Talus, N. Kona Cliff Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
31 Cucumis dipsaceus Koko Head, Oahu. Edge of Crater Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. Oahu BISH 1924-11-16
32 Cucumis dipsaceus Waianae, roadside near beach Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. Oahu BISH 1930-11-30
33 Cucumis dipsaceus Palawai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 311 Lanai BISH 1928-04-17
34 Cucumis dipsaceus East Maui, Nuu Parcel under lower Wiliwili grove west of Na Kula LZ Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2325 Maui BISH 2013-01-03
35 Cucumis dipsaceus Hauola Village, near Very common naturalized in open Prosopis forest. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28652 Lanai BISH 1963-07-21
36 Cucumis dipsaceus Along main road, 19 miles from Waimea towards Kona, Hawaii, T.H Arid Region Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6068 Hawaii BISH 1926-08-18
37 Cucumis dipsaceus Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Southern Trap & Skeet Range On edge of Tripoli Road outside of mowed area. Growing amongst unmowed grasses. Preserved_Specimen 2 m x 2 m patch of vines. Bright yellow spikey fruit with melon scent. BISH staff 88 Oahu BISH 2021-05-17
38 Cucumis dipsaceus East Maui, 14.6 mi E of Ulupalakua Ranch on Piilani Hwy. (Hwy. 31), 1.7 mi E of Manawainui Rocky cliff and slope dominated by Cenchrus, area heavily grazed by cattle. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4752 Maui BISH 1983-01-14
39 Cucumis dipsaceus Makapuu Point near abandoned native city on way to Waimanalo, Oahu, T.Hawaii Rocky bare dessicated plain. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6072 Oahu BISH 1923-04-08
40 Cucumis dipsaceus Keomuku, NE shore of the island Along roadside in arid, disturbed Prosopis thicket. Preserved_Specimen Common vine with yellow flowers and fruit. Herbst, D.R. 4024 Lanai BISH 1974-06-10
41 Cucumis dipsaceus Kaalualu Bay near South Point Found in waste and pasture areas. Preserved_Specimen Yellow flowered vine with hispid leaves and sterms. Fruit about 5 cm long, spiny. Whistler, W.A. 63 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
42 Cucumis dipsaceus Mana, Kauai Naturalized along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2093 Kauai BISH 1926-06-01
43 Cucumis dipsaceus Central Maui, Kihei, along dirt road Growing in open of Kiawe forest near beach. Preserved_Specimen Aprostrate vine. Leaves cordate; round tips; hairy or with small bristles (entire plant); margins serrate. Stems angled. Flowers yellow when mature, covered with bristles. Spence, G. 130 Maui BISH 1972-12-18
44 Cucumis dipsaceus Kahuku, James Campbell Wildlife Refuge Arid, sunny regions at lower elevations. Grassland. Slope 0-3%. Soil, Clay-coral. Preserved_Specimen Bristly vine, angled stems, large spiny fruit. Flowers are tiny and yellow. Andrews, S. 2 Oahu BISH 1980-11-29
45 Cucumis dipsaceus Koloa District Mahaulepu area, along ravel road north of gillins beach. Growing in Leucaena leucocephala, in dry Leucaena dominated shrubland. Preserved_Specimen Herbaceous vine, growing to about 2 meters; leaves dull gray-green, many dead leaves falling off the stem; entire plant covered in irritating hairs; fruit bright yellow, rigi, spiky; seeds pale tan color Brock, K. 854 Kauai BISH 2016-06-14
46 Cucumis dipsaceus Between Honuapo and Hilea, Hawaii, T. Hawaii In arid a'a kipuka. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6070 Hawaii BISH 1930-02-17
47 Cucumis dipsaceus Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Ahihi Bay at the N end of the reserve Pockets of vegetation near the seashore amongst a'a lava about 200 years old. Preserved_Specimen Wild cucumber; comon; flowers yellow; fruit spiny. Abbott, I.A. 91.14 Maui BISH 1991-03-05
48 Cucumis dipsaceus Kaena, Uluhulu Gulch, Oahu Creeping in thicket. Preserved_Specimen Fruit yellow, flower yellow. St.John, H. 10005 Oahu BISH 1929-11-03
49 Cucumis dipsaceus South Point (Ka Lea) Kau District, near sea level Growing on rocks near shore. Preserved_Specimen Spiny vine, flowers yellow. Corn, C. 267 Hawaii BISH 1979-10-30
50 Cucumis dipsaceus South Point (Ka Lae) Kau District Growing on rocks near shore. Preserved_Specimen Spiny vine. Flowers yellow. Corn, C. 267 Hawaii BISH 1979-10-30
51 Cucumis dipsaceus Makapuu Head. Maunalua, Oahu Upper Beach Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7060 Oahu BISH 1934-07-12
52 Cucumis dipsaceus Makapuu Point, Oahu. T.H. Hawaii Arid plain- naturalized. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2098 Oahu BISH 1926-12-01
53 Cucumis dipsaceus Makapuu Point, Oahu, T. Hawaii Dry lava plain. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 6074 Oahu BISH 1923-06-25
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