J20160218-0024—Marah horrida—RPBG

Marah horrida—Sierra man-root. "Marah" is a biblical reference to the Waters of Marah, a bitter spring the Jews encountered in the wilderness. "Horrida" comes from the cucumber-like fruit covered with scary-looking spines. Native Americans along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada used a concoction made from the fruit and/or the humongous roots as a fish poison. Photographed at Regional Parks Botanic Garden located in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, CA.

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