ecballium Synonyms
No Synonyms and anytonyms found
ecballium Meaning
ecballium (n)
exploding cucumber; squirting cucumber
ecballium (n.)
A genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single species agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its fruit, when ripe, bursts and violently ejects its seeds, together with a mucilaginous juice, from which elaterium, a powerful cathartic medicine, is prepared.
ecballium Sentence Examples
- Ecballium elaterium, commonly known as squirting cucumber or explosive cucumber, is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family.
- The genus name Ecballium originates from the Greek word ekballein, meaning "to throw out," referring to the unique seed dispersal mechanism of the plant.
- Ecballium elaterium is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, extending from North Africa through Europe to Western Asia.
- The plant is characterized by its slender, hairy stems, which can grow up to two meters in length.
- The leaves of Ecballium elaterium are deeply lobed and palmately divided, resembling the leaves of a cucumber plant.
- The flowers are small, yellow-green in color, and occur in clusters at the leaf axils.
- The fruit of Ecballium elaterium is a small, oblong berry.
- The berry is initially green and turns yellow-orange at maturity.
- When the fruit is ripe, it suddenly detaches from the stem and forcefully expels its seeds, earning it the nickname "squirting cucumber."
- Ecballium elaterium has traditionally been used in herbal medicine for its purgative and diuretic properties.
FAQs About the word ecballium
exploding cucumber; squirting cucumberA genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single species agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its frui
No synonyms found.
No antonyms found.
Ecballium elaterium, commonly known as squirting cucumber or explosive cucumber, is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family.
The genus name Ecballium originates from the Greek word ekballein, meaning "to throw out," referring to the unique seed dispersal mechanism of the plant.
Ecballium elaterium is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, extending from North Africa through Europe to Western Asia.
The plant is characterized by its slender, hairy stems, which can grow up to two meters in length.
