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Photo from Snowbirdpix.com.


The caudex from Boycethompson.blogspot.com.


Another caudex by Kr-Cn, Flickr.com .


The fruit from Snowbirdpix.com.


A large plant from Kxci.org.

Author: 

Edward Lee Greene, 1910

Family: 

CUCURBITACEAE

Origin: 

NW Mexico, Arizona; SW U.S.A.

Soil: 

Sandy - Mix

Water: 

Medium

Sun: 

Medium - Maximum

Thickness: 

35 Centimetres

Height: 

3 Metres

Flower: 

Yellow - White - Greenish White

Propagate: 

Seeds

Names: 

Gila Manroot, Wild Cucumber, Bigroot

Synonyms: 

Megarrhiza gilensis, Greene, 1881.
Echinocystis gilensis, Greene, 1886.
Micrampelis gilensis, Britton, 1889.

This monoecious member of the Cucurbitaceae family was given this name by Edward Lee Greene in 1910. It is found in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in north-western Mexico, growing in sandy or other well drained soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 35 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to three centimetres in height. The flowers are white, yellow or greenish-white.

The genera name might be from Latin amarus; 'bitter' for the taste of the roots. The species name for the area it first was found in Gila Country, Arizona.


Male flowers by Sue Carnahan, Midwestherbaria.org.


Female flowers by Sue Carnahan, Midwestherbaria.org.


Teaves by Sue Carnahan, Midwestherbaria.org.