| ecballium | (n) exploding cucumber; squirting cucumber, Syn. genus Ecballium |
| squirting cucumber | (n) Mediterranean vine having oblong fruit that when ripe expels its seeds and juice violently when touched, Syn. exploding cucumber, touch-me-not, Ecballium elaterium |
| Ecballium | ‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Ecbole. ] (Bot.) A genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single species Ecballium agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its fruit, when ripe, bursts and violently ejects its seeds, together with a mucilaginous juice, from which elaterium, a powerful cathartic medicine, is prepared. [ 1913 Webster ] |