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Bryonia syriaca

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Photo by Ivan Cupic.


The plentiful flowers by Ivan Cupic.


Photo by Ivan Cupic.


The flowers by Ivan Cupic.


Photo by Ivan Cupic.


The fruits by Ori Fragman-Sapir, Flora.org.il.

Author: Pierre Edmond Boissier, 1856
Family:  CUCURBITACEAE
Origin:  Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Sinai
Soil:  Heavy Soil
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium - Maximum
Thickness:  50 Centimetres
Height:  250 Centimetres
Flower:  Greenish-Yellow
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Syrian Bryony
Synonyms:  Bryonia micrantha, Boiss.
Bryonia syriaca f. monoica, Feinbrun.

This member of the Cucurbitaceae family was given this name by Pierre Edmond Boissier in 1856. It is found in Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel down to Sinai, growing in a rather solid soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 50 centimetres in diameter, although it tend to split up in seven centimetre roots, the entire plant to 250 centimetres in length. The flowers are greenish yellow.

The genre name; Bryonia from bryein, meaning 'luxuriant growth'. The species name after the country it was first discovered in; Syria.


A large, exposed caudex by Ivan Cupic.


Photo by Ivan Cupic.


The flowers by Ivan Cupic.


Photo by Ivan Cupic.