Many botanists and Bible scholars suggested that the wild vine and gourds were Citrullus colocynthis, a cucumber-like plant with purgative or cleansing qualities. Citrullus colocynthis is called the bitter wild gourd and not considered to be edible. It grows in sandy soil and gravel in Israel. The Colocynth grows abundantly on the barren sands near Gilgal, and all round the Dead Sea on the low flats. It covers a large amount of ground and bears a large quantity of fruit.