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Ecballium

(Science: botany) a genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single species ecballium agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its fruit, when ripe, bursts and violently ejects its seeds, together with a mucilaginous juice, from which elaterium, a powerful cathartic medicine, is prepared.

Origin: NL, fr. Gr. See Ecbole.