C) the fruit of a wild cucumber vine
Primarily found in spring, you can see these non-edible, spiky fruits hanging from the vines of wild cucumber plants (Marah fabaceus) as you near the Palm Canyon parking area of the Indian Canyons, Palm Springs. The "cucumbers" are 2" to 3" inches long and are poisonous. Some Native Americans used the seeds as a binder for mineral pigments.
Photo: M. Hedgecock