Burcucumber

Sicyos angulatus

Weed Description
A summer annual climbing vine that closely resembles cucumber plants, especially during the early stages of growth. Vining stems often climb by way of tendrils. Found from the east coast to Florida and west to Minnesota, Kansas and Texas.

Seedlings
Cotyledons very closely resemble those of ordinary cucumber cotyledons, are thick and oblong, with many spreading hairs on the top and bottom. The stem below the cotyledons (hypocotyl) is also covered with many short hairs that typically point downward.

Leaves
Alternate, 2-8 inches long, 2-8 inches wide, hairy, broadly heart shaped with 5 pointed lobes and a toothed margin.

Stems
Stems are hairy especially at the leaf nodes, longitudinally ridged, and climb by way of branched tendrils.

Flowers
Whitish to green, with 5 sepals and 5 petals.

Fruit
Produced in clusters of 3-20, and resemble very small cucumbers covered with long bristles.

Roots
Fibrous.

Identifying Characteristics
Vining plant with 5-lobed leaves and small, spiny fruit that resemble cucumbers. This plant may very easily be confused with wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata). However, wild cucumber has more deeply lobed leaves that are almost star-shaped, stems that are rarely hairy, and flowers that have 6 sepals and 6 petals. Burcucumber might also be confused with Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus), however this weed does not have tendrils and has downward-pointing prickles on the stems.

Trouble identifying a weed?

For additional assistance identifying weeds, contact Dr. Kevin Braldly, State Extension Weed Scientist (bradleyke@missouri.edu).

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Burcucumber

Sicyos angulatus

Trouble identifying a weed?