echi·no·cys·tis \“+ˈsistə̇s\noun Etymology: New Latin, from echin- + -cystis; from the spiny globular fruit 1.capitalized: a genus of prostrate or climbing American herbaceous plants (family Cucurbitaceae) with greenish white flowers followed by densely spiny oblong to ovate fruits 2.-es: any plant of the genus Echinocystis