Cucurbitaceae FAMILY

Ecballium elaterium

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Poisonous in large quantities[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. ] (this probably refers to the fruit). The juice of the fruit is irritative to some skins[ 148 Title Herbs of Greece. Publication Author Niebuhr. A. D. Publisher Herb Society of America. Year 1970 ISBN - Description A pleasant little book about Greek herbs. ]. The fruit juice is considered to be toxic, affecting the respiratory, cardiac and gastric systems plus any mucous membranes it makes contact with[ 1201 Title Bryonia alba L. and Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich. - Two related species of the Cucurbitaceae family with importa Publication Farmacia, 2016 , Vol 64, 3 pp 323-332 Author Irina Ielciu; Michel Feédérich; Monique Tits; Luc Angenot; R Publisher Year 2016 ISBN Description ].

Botanical Description

Ecballium elaterium is a herbaceous perennial plant producing one or more stems from a woody rootstock. The stems can grow up to 100cm or more long, usually trailing along the ground. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated for medicinal use and is also sometimes grown in gardens as a curiosity. The plant occasionally self-sows in our Cornwall trial ground[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ] and can become a weed in warmer climates than Britain[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ]. It is subject to statutory control as a weed in Australia[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeThroughout the Mediterranean, except Egypt, and east to Moldova, Ukraine and the Caucasus

HabitatHot dry places on waste ground and roadsides[ 45 Title Flowers of Greece and the Balkans. Publication Author Polunin. O. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1980 ISBN 0-19-217626-9 Description A good pocket flora, it also lists quite a few plant uses. , 86 Title Gourds. Publication Author Organ. J. Publisher Faber Year 1963 ISBN - Description Deals with squashes and their relatives. Interesting and readable, it gives cultivation techniques and some details of plant uses. ], usually close to the coast[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. ].