Antique Botany Print of Ecballium Elaterium by Curtis (1817)

Description: Antique botany print of Ecballium Elaterium, also known as the squirting cucumber or exploding cucumber. It gets its unusual name from the fact that, when ripe, it squirts a stream of mucilaginous liquid containing its seeds, which can be seen with the naked eye. This print originates from 'Curtis's botanical magazine'. 

Artists and Engravers: Curtis's Botanical Magazine is the longest running botanical periodical featuring colour illustrations of plants. Curtis's Botanical Magazine has been published continuously since 1787, although there have been several series within the overall sequence. From 1984 to 1994 the magazine appeared under the title of The Kew Magazine. In 1995 the publication returned to its roots and the historical and popular name Curtis's Botanical Magazine again took precedence.