Species name :

Ecballium elaterium(L.) A.Rich.
Published in Dict. Class. Hist. Nat. 6: 19 (1824)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Momordica elaterium L.

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [WFO] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Cucurbitaceae Juss. (The Gourd or Cucumber Family)
2 species from the Cucurbitaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Squirting Cucumber, Spitting Cucumber, Wild Balsam-Apple

Maltese name(s) :

Faqqus il-ħmir, Bettieħ il-ħmir

Status for Malta :

Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent    Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Germination type [info]: Dicotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Geophyte ( perennials bearing underground bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, stolons, etc. )

Legal Protection :

Not legally protected till the last update of this website (22/Aug/2025)

Red List (1989) :

Not listed in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands

Flowering Time :

May – July

Colour of Flowers:

Cream

Toxicity:

Toxic, and may lead to irreversible damage or death if consumed in large quantities

Name Derivation :

Ecballium: From ekballein meaning to cast out forcefully, referring to the forceful ejection of the seeds when the fruit is ripe ! (Greek origin)

elaterium: from elatos meaning to drive or expel away violently, again for the powerful expulsion of seeds of this plant when the fruit are touched or ripe. (Greek origin)

Planting in rural areas :

Can be planted in rural areas according to ERA Guidelines