Squirting Cucumber flower

Photo: Jeffrey Sciberras
Scientific name: Ecballium elaterium
Maltese name: Faqqus il-Ħmir
Occurrence locally: common
habitat: disturbed ground
other info: the only wild relative of cucumbers locally. it is a herbaceous, tuberous, hairy and fleshy perennial, with prostrate long stems. leaves are simple but somewhat lobed. when fruit is riped, it can easily explode or thrown meters away with the slightest vibration.