Cucumber vine: by its fruits you will know...

There is a green vine growing over the large unusual evergreen tree (Cunninghamia) on the north side of Rolandvue a little east of Cloverlea.  Our guide identified this as cucumber vine.  I didn't ask if it was from the nearby garden or the wild type.

Wild cucumber is a native vine tending to grow near water or ponds as in this case.  The leaves are alternate, somewhat Maple like.  The white flowers should be followed by a 2 inch fruit covered with spikes. It is a relative of the pumpkin and cultured cucumber.  I did not see the spiked fruits as yet.

The dynamic changes in the Cloverlea/ Wagner circle are impressive.  In this case probably active gardening.  The cucumber vine over the Cunninghamia has been removed.  We will not see the fruits unless there is a straggler.  The spiky pods on the internet looked interesting.  Maybe next year.

Update: A few weeks later the cucumber vine is back, the photos show  the leaves are a little maple-like, as in the internet picture at the bottom. The tendrils may be typical and have gotten some scientific interest.  How do they coil without twisting back on themselves like a hose?  It may have something to do with the small straight stretch near the bottom.  Here it has attached to a blade of grass.  Location was over the rocks on the north side of Rolandvue next to the Cunninghamia. Still no prickly fruit.