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.
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