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Stone, Robert L.

Melothria pendula

Melothria pendula L.

Guadeloupe Cucumber, Meloncito, Speckled Gourd

Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: MEPE3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

Creeping Cucumber is a member of the cucumber family (family Cucurbitaceae). Cucumbers are herbs, often trailing or climbing by coiled tendrils.

From the Image Gallery

9 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Fruit Type: Pepo

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DC , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Identification of vine with gourd-like fruit
June 30, 2010
We live on a farm, and I have noticed a vine that has leaves like grapes, but produces this flower, and a fruit that is rather large, shaped like a gourd, right now green in color. It is growing over ...
view the full question and answer

Are gourds poisonous, edible?
August 27, 2008
Are all the Gourds edible? How can I know which one is which? If it is not edible, is it poisonous? If not, what is stopping us from eating them?
view the full question and answer

Plant identification
July 29, 2008
I have found what resembles a gooseberry growing from what appears to be a grapevine trellising on a fence beside a lake in East Texas. The stems are smooth and slender, nad as I stated before vine up...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC		FAC	FACU	FAC	FAC		FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0768 Collected Sep 4, 1993 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0770 Collected Sep 9, 1993 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0516 Collected Jul 11, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0474 Collected Jul 1, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

4 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Melothria pendula in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Melothria pendula in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Melothria pendula

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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