...Spotted in Woburn!
Back in January, 2013, I saw what looked like "Tree Sponges" while walking in the Conservation Land behind Horn Pond. Clearly, they were the dried, woody remains of some kind of plant growth. But what kind?
It wasn't until a few days ago, while walking on the same trail, that I finally saw them in the flesh, as it were. Spiky, green pods, hanging off of a climbing vine. "Tree Pickles," I thought, and I was pretty close. It turns out that this is 'Wild Cucumber', formally known as 'Echinocystis Lobata'. It's a member of the Squash family, and was reportedly prized by Native Americans for it's medicinal qualities.
It turns out that this is 'Wild Cucumber', formally known as 'Echinocystis Lobata'. It's a member of the Squash family, and was reportedly prized by Native Americans for it's medicinal qualities. A friend asked me if they were edible. The answer is, "No, not even if you're on an ultra-high-fiber diet." They are seed pods, and are actually quite light and fibrous, with 4 large, flat brown seeds inside:
Although this one does looks like some kind of a monocular deep-sea creature:
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A Blog by Mike Cohen the Storyteller and Web Developer for and about Books, Bike Touring, Cartoons, Life in the Future, Thoughtful Cultural Commentary, and Subversive but Witty Remarks.
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