TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) previous taxon | next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

CUCURBITACEAE

GOURD FAMILY

Robert L. Schlising

Annual, perennial herb, generally monoecious; hairs often hardened by calcium deposits
Stems trailing or climbing, 1–many; tendril generally 1 per node, often branched
Leaves generally simple, alternate, generally palmately lobed, veined, petioled; stipule 0
Inflorescences at nodes; staminate flowers in racemes, panicles, small clusters, rarely solitary; pistillate flowers generally solitary
Flower unisexual in CA, radial; hypanthium > ovary; calyx (apparently 0 or) generally 5-lobed; corolla rotate or cup-shaped, generally 5-lobed; stamens 3–5 (or appearing 1–3 from fusion), anthers often > filaments, twisted together; ovary ± inferior, chambers generally 5, placentas parietal, ± growing into chambers, styles 1–3, stigmas generally lobed, large
Fruit: berry (sometimes drying) or capsule (irregularly dehiscent), generally gourd- or melon-like
Seeds 1–many
Genera in family: 100 genera, 700 species: especially tropical; some cultivated (Citrullus ; Cucumis ; Cucurbita ; Sechium , chayote). Citrullus colocynthis var. lanatus has been reported as a weed in DSon.

MARAH

MAN-ROOT, WILD CUCUMBER

Perennial, sometimes temporarily dioecious; tuber large
Stem ± scabrous or hairy, becoming glabrous; tendril branched
Leaf ± round, cordate, ± 5–7-lobed
Inflorescences: staminate flowers in racemes or panicles with nonglandular axes (or 1 flower per axil early in season); pistillate flower 1 per axil (generally same axil as staminate)
Flower: sepals 0; corolla 3–15 mm wide (wider in pistillate), cup-shaped to rotate, white or cream to yellowish green; stamens fused, anthers twisted together; stigma 1, ± hemispheric
Fruit: capsule, irregularly dehiscent, ± symmetric, 3–20 cm, round, ovate, or oblong, sometimes tapered to a beak, ± prickly
Seed generally > 1 cm
Species in genus: 7 species: w North America
Etymology: (Hebrew: bitter, from taste of all parts)
Reference: [Schlising 1969 Amer J Bot 56:552–561]
Extremely variable in habit, leaves, sexual expression; presumed hybrids occur where species overlap. Sometimes included in Echinocystis.

Native

M. fabaceus (Naudin) Greene

CALIFORNIA MAN-ROOT

Herbage generally not glaucous
Flower: corolla rotate, yellowish green, cream or (especially inland) white
Fruit 4–5 cm, ± round; prickles sparse to dense, < 12 mm, ± stiff, unhooked
Seeds 2–4, 18–24 mm, ovate to oblong, ± flat on sides or not
Chromosomes: 2n=32
Ecology: Streamsides, washes, shrubby and open areas
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province (except n Northwestern California, n Cascade Range), Mojave Desert
Flowering time: Feb–Apr
Highly variable; plants outside SnFrB and CCo are assignable to var. agrestis (Greene) K.M. Stocking (fruit prickles flexible, < 5 mm; seeds generally 2–3, not flat on sides), which intergrades ± completely with the plants considered var. f.; more study needed
Horticultural information: DRN: 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; INV.

previous taxon | next taxon
bioregional map for MARAH%20fabaceus being generated
 


Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Marah fabaceus
Retrieve dichotomous key for Marah
Return to treatment index page
Glossary
University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page | Copyright © by the Regents of the University of California