#curcubitaceae

[syngoniums]

I am not totally clear about what distinguishes Ibervillea lindheimeri from I. tenuisecta, other than the narrowness of the leaves, or if one is indeed just a subspecies of the other. These plants in the Maverick County Cemetery are certainly finer-lobed than plants in central Texas, but it makes me wonder how much sun and aridity can influence their shape. I did collect a few fruits, so with luck I can eventually experiment with that myself.

[syngoniums]

Ibervillea lindheimeri grown from seed collected in Hays County. The last picture is fruit in habitat in Kinney County

[syngoniums]

May garden miscellany.

[syngoniums]

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) and buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima).

[syngoniums]

Apparently an Ibervillea lindheimerii seed escaped when I was processing them. In all the recent rain, it, along with some potting soil, washed against a pot, and it germinated in that thin layer of dirt with nothing but concrete underneath. It has since been relocated to a place it might actually survive.

[syngoniums]

Balsam gourd (Ibervillea lindheimeri) fruits are ripe. Not poisonous but apparently not particularly palatable either. Seeing as many wild curcubits have a laxative effect, I'm not inclined to experiment. Over time plants produce large caudices, which form underground in nature but are often grown exposed in cultivation. I took a few fruits to try growing them from seed. (If anyone is interested in seeds, btw, drop me a message, I have more than I need.)

[drhoz]

#2888 - Citrullus colocynthis - Paddymelon

Formerly Colocynthis citrullus. AKA Abu Jahl's melon, colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, egusi, vine of Sodom, or wild gourd.

Native to the drier parts of the Mediterranean Basin, west Asia, and Nubia, but now found over a much larger area that includes Australia. It closely resembles the watermelon, which may be derived from it, but the pulp is bitter and poisonous. That doesn't stop it being cultivated in areas where other agriculture is difficult. The seeds need to be roasted for food, or pressed for oil.

Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India.

[rickrobb58]

Some random volunteer #curcubitaceae snaking through the #corn in #rickrobbsgarden2021 (at Rick Robb’s Garden 2) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQW3pakr9d_/?utm_medium=tumblr