Exploding cucumbers

[Lofos-5]

Yesterday we went for a little excursion in the area of Marathounta and at some point the boys were screaming loudly and jumping back from the road side back to the center of the track. I was convinded they woke up a snake or something - but no - it was what is apparently called exploding or squirting cucumbers.

Never seen or even heard of them before. Quite a spectucalar plant indeed - we triggered a few more with a stick later but stopped when trousers and faces were splashed on.

This video shows these cucumbers in action quite well - the sound track is almost similar to when the boys first discovered them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyhiSL2MwTg

And this is a good description of what they are actually doing when exploding:

http://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2 ... g-cucumber

We also came across some nice flesh eating plants amongst some harzburgite rock boulders (the real reason for the excursion) and even some wild Easter daffodils. Amazing what nature has to offer here in Cyprus - but of course we were lucky to have an expert guide to show it us all .

IMG_8360.jpg (138.27 KiB) Viewed 1993 times

A.

[WHL]

My cucumber used to explode many Moons ago,

[Lofos-5]

My cucumber used to explode many Moons ago,

Up to 6m far?

[Dominic]

Ladies, please...