Marah macrocarpa
| Chilicothe | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Marah |
| Species: | M. macrocarpa |
| Binomial name | |
| Marah macrocarpa (Greene) Greene | |
| Synonyms | |
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Marah macrocarpa is a species of plant in the genus Marah commonly referred to as chilicothe, wild cucumber, manroot or bigroot. It is a perennial herb with a large tuber native to Southern California and northern Baja California. It grows in a diverse number of habitats in coastal and inland regions. A member of the gourd family, it produces a large, green, prickly fruit. Indigenous peoples traditionally used it for treating hair loss and pain relief. All parts of the plant are toxic, as it contains cucurbitacins and ribosome-inactivating proteins.