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Brandegea bigelovii

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Photo by Michael L. Charters


Photo by James M. Andre.


The fruit by Deborah Dozier, Calflora.org.

Author: Célestin Alfred Cogniaux, 1890
Family:  CUCURBITACEAE
Origin:  California, Arizona, Colorado, Baja California.
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  ?
Height:  4 Meters
Flower:  White - Crème Coloured
Propagate:  Seeds/?
Names:  Brandegea, Desert Starvine
Synonyms:  Elaterium bigelovii, S. Watson, 1877.
Brandegea minima, Rose.
Brandegea monosperma,
Cogn.
Brandegea palmeri,
Rose.
Brandegea parviflora,
S.Watson ex Rose.
Cyclanthera monosperma,
Brandegee.
Echinocystis bigelovii,
Cogn.
Echinocystis brandegeei,
Cogn.
Echinocystis parviflora,
S.Watson.
Echinopepon bigelovii,
S.Watson.
Echinopepon palmeri,
S.Watson.
Echinopepon parviflorus,
S.Watson.
Melothria pendula,
W.H.Brewer & S.Watson.
Micrampelis bigelovii,
Kuntze.
Vaseyanthus brandegeei,
Rose.
Vaseyanthus insularis var. brandegeei, 
I.M.Johnst.
Vaseyanthus insularis var. palmeri,
Gentry.
Vaseyanthus palmeri,
Gentry.

This monoecious member of the Cucurbitaceae family was given this name by Célestin Alfred Cogniaux in 1890. It is found in the desserts of California, Arizona, Colorado and Baja California, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The vines will reach for four meters. The tiny flowers are white to crème coloured.

The genera is named after Townsend S. Brandegee (1843-1925), an US botanist. The species after Dr. John Milton Bigelow (1804-1878), a professor of botany at Detroit Medical College.

Tribe: Sicyeae  Subtribe Cyclantherinae.