Marah horridus
Encyclopedia
Marah horridus is a species of flowering plant in the gourd family
known by the common name Sierra manroot. It is endemic to California
, where it grows in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
. It produces a climbing stem with tendril
s and many lobed, rounded leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit is an oblong, densely prickly capsule which may reach 20 centimeters long. It contains many seeds which may be 3 centimeters in length.
Cucurbitaceae
The plant family Cucurbitaceae consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons...
known by the common name Sierra manroot. It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Description
Marah horridus is a perennial herb growing from a large, branched tuberTuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
. It produces a climbing stem with tendril
Tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape that is used by climbing plants for support, attachment and cellular invasion by parasitic plants, generally by twining around suitable hosts. They do not have a lamina or blade, but they can photosynthesize...
s and many lobed, rounded leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit is an oblong, densely prickly capsule which may reach 20 centimeters long. It contains many seeds which may be 3 centimeters in length.