Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - November 22, 2014
From: Floresville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Poisonous Plants, Vines
Title: Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants would not advise eating the fruit of Melothria pendula (Guadeloupe cucumber). Here is what Delena Tull says in Edible and Useful Plants of the Southwest: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona:
"Consider wild gourds not listed here to be potentially toxic. The gourds of Melothria species (a tiny green cucumberlike fruit) and of balsam apple, Momordica species (a yellow or orange spiny fruit), have caused poisoning (Ellis 1978)."
According to the North Carolina State Plant Database it is of low toxicity, but it is a strong laxative causing diarrhea.
You will find, however, that there are those who have eaten them and claim the pale green ones are fine to eat or put in salads. The ripe ones are the potential troublemakers. You can read about this at Eat the Weeds by Green Deane.
From the Image Gallery
More Edible Plants Questions
Are flower petals poisonous?
December 01, 2008 - Is it toxic to eat the petals on a flower?
Ashley
view the full question and answer
Jelly made from local plums from Amarillo TX
July 29, 2011 - On Wednesday, August 5, 2009 you answered a question on native plants in the Austin area in which you wrote:"Two kinds of local plums have also been used to make jellies: Mexican Plum (Prunus mexican...
view the full question and answer
Will a chile pequin survive winters in Garden City, Kansas
March 24, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Pants,
I am trying to determine if a chile pequin (Capsicum annuum) can survive Kansas winters. My sister lives in Killeen, TX, and has a couple of these bushes in her yard. She broug...
view the full question and answer
Is the Texas mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, toxic to cats?
September 08, 2009 - Hi Mr. Smarty Pants!
Regarding Texas mesquite tree, I know that rabbits and deer etc eat the seed pods, but my cat every time he goes outside starts munching on the pods, and I can't find any info o...
view the full question and answer
Patience pays off with chile pequin in Austin
September 24, 2011 - Hello. Re my June 08, 2011 message -- Guess what! The chile pequin is finally flowering and setting fruit in its container on my apartment patio. You said patience, you were right, and hooray once aga...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |