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Bur Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus)

• Family: Gourd (Cucurbitaceae)
• Flowering: July-October.
• Field Marks: The distinguishing features of this gourd are the prickly, 1-seeded fruits and the very hairy stems and leaves.
• Habitat: Wet woods, damp thickets, particularly along rivers.
• Habit: Climbing annual herb with tendrils.
• Stems: Twining or climbing, very hairy, often many feet long.
• Leaves: Alternate, simple, with 3 or 5 shallow lobes, toothed, hairy, pointed at the tip of each lobe, up to 6 inches long, often as broad.
• Flowers: Male and female flowers separate but on the same plant, up to 1/2 inch across.
• Sepals: 5, green, united.
• Petals: 5, greenish yellow, united.
• Stamens: Usually 5, united to each other.
• Pistils: Ovary inferior; stigmas 3.
• Fruits: Dry, indehiscent, ovoid, covered by prickly bristles, hairy, up to 3/4 inch long.
• Notes: The prickles on the fruit are stiff enough to break the skin.