On Trip IV, we'd often encounter these plants which we called "squirting cucumbers," as they'd squirt when you stepped (or jumped) on them. Fun times.
I've just learned that they're actually called Ecballium elaterium, and I ran across a reference to them in Vivian Nutton's Ancient Medicine:
"Even the squirting cucumber, whose purgative properties are well established, may have been used as an emmenagogue or an oxytocic as much for symbolic as for practically evaluated reasons: its capacity to eject its seeds forcefully made it an appropriate plant to use when wishing to expel an unwanted conception, an afterbirth or a suppressed menstrual period."
So there you have it. I wonder what a "suppressed menstrual period" is? And according to Wikipedia, the squirting cucumber is today used in Turkey to treat sinus problems. But I think they're best for jumping on - the archaeologist's version of a water balloon fight, perhaps?
(squirting cucumbers at Tiryns)
I've just learned that they're actually called Ecballium elaterium, and I ran across a reference to them in Vivian Nutton's Ancient Medicine:
"Even the squirting cucumber, whose purgative properties are well established, may have been used as an emmenagogue or an oxytocic as much for symbolic as for practically evaluated reasons: its capacity to eject its seeds forcefully made it an appropriate plant to use when wishing to expel an unwanted conception, an afterbirth or a suppressed menstrual period."
So there you have it. I wonder what a "suppressed menstrual period" is? And according to Wikipedia, the squirting cucumber is today used in Turkey to treat sinus problems. But I think they're best for jumping on - the archaeologist's version of a water balloon fight, perhaps?
