Re: Wild Cucumbers?

[Mark Mayfield]

Hi Lacey,

Yes, it is a type of "wild cucumber" but that is a non-specific common name that could be used for any wild species in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). This plant is specifically known as Naudin's Cyclanthera (Cyclanthera naudiniana). It is an uncommon native annual vine mostly distributed in the western counties of Kansas.

Best, Mark

Mark H. Mayfield
Division of Biology
1717 Claflin Rd. 
Manhattan, Kansas 66506-4900
785-532-2795 (voice)

Office: 304 Bushnell Hall

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From: Lacey Noterman <ln...@ksu.edu>
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2025 8:49
To: Mark Mayfield <mark...@ksu.edu>
Subject: Wild Cucumbers?

 

Hi Mark,

Had a farmer bring this in this morning. Did some digging could this be wild cucumbers? He was out baling and found several vines throughout his bales. 

I also have the plant in the fridge if I need to send it to you. 

Thank you

Lacey 

[Mark Mayfield]

Hi Lacey, 

Cyclanthera naudiniana is an annual, so the plant is coming back from seeds produced the previous season. That means the plants are producing some fruit and seeds each year before the 2-4D kills the plants. Any control measures would have to kill the plants before they produce seeds. As far as whether the 2-4D is effective control, I am not sure since I can find no literature on its control.

I don't find any information on whether this plant is toxic to cattle either. However, that doesn't mean that it has ever been studied in this regard--it just means there's no published anecdotal evidence. It is such an uncommon plant in general that it wouldn't be a wide concern for toxicity or for control measures.

Note the plants of Cyclanthera that grow in Kansas were reclassified as C. naudiniana in 2014, and were formerly placed in the species Cyclanthera dissecta. As a result, most of the references to the North American plants are to Cyclanthera dissecta. 

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Best, 

Mark

Mark H. Mayfield
Division of Biology
1717 Claflin Rd. 
Manhattan, Kansas 66506-4900
785-532-2795 (voice)

Office: 304 Bushnell Hall

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From: Lacey Noterman <ln...@ksu.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 11:33
To: Mark Mayfield <mark...@ksu.edu>
Subject: RE: Wild Cucumbers?

 

Hey Mark,

Can you tell me if this is poisonous at all to cattle?  This plant seems to show up in “high traffic” areas.  Can you also advise on how to kill it?  The farmer has killed it with 24D but it keeps coming back. 

Thank you

Lacey