Marah oregana
Coast man-root
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Family: Cucurbitaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Marah oregana (Coast man-root) is a native California vine in the Cucurbitaceae family, recognized by beaked striped fruit and disk-shaped seeds.
Coast man-root is a California native perennial found in northwestern California and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in shrubby or open areas and forest edges at elevations below 1,800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers in deeply cup-shaped corollas more than 8 millimeters wide. Growing with climbing or sprawling stems, it develops a robust and extensive herb system with non-glaucous herbage. Its leaves are broadly distributed along the vine-like stems, supporting the plant's expansive growth habit. The fruit is a nearly spherical structure 4 to 8 centimeters long, typically marked with dark green stripes and covered in dense, stiff prickles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are beaked striped fruit and disk-shaped seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: shrubby or open areas, forest edges
Elevation: < 1800 m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Marah oregana blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Echinocystis: Marah fruits are beaked and symmetric; Echinocystis fruits lack prominent beaks.; vs Delairea: Marah is a cucurbit vine with tendrils; Delairea is a composite with daisy-like flowers.; vs Brandegea: Marah flowers are 3 mm or larger; Brandegea flowers are under 3 mm.; vs Vitis: Marah has white flowers and spiny fruits; Vitis has grapes and opposite leaves with tendrils.; vs Cucumis: Marah flowers are white/cream; Cucumis flowers are yellow.
Frequently asked questions
Is Marah oregana native to California?
Yes. Marah oregana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Marah oregana bloom?
Marah oregana blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Marah oregana belong to?
Marah oregana is in the Cucurbitaceae family, genus Marah.
What habitat does Marah oregana grow in?
Marah oregana grows in shrubby or open areas, forest edges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.