Creeping Cucumber

(Melothria pendula)


Synonyms: Melothria guadalupensis

Common Names: Guadeloupe cucumber

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Personality: Fun and cute, but get out of hand really quick.

Description: These cucumber relatives are delicate vines with tendrils and tiny watermelon looking fruit. These are not the same as the cucamelons, but a close relative. Native to the southeast United States and the Caribbean, these vines will grow over everything if left to wander.

Uses: The green unripe fruit are edible and have a cucumber taste to them and the leaves have a cucumber smell when crushed. Other parts of the plant may not be safe to consume or use for skincare.

Note: The fruit turn dark purple/black when ripe and have an extreme laxative effect. Do NOT eat these.


Referenes:

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MEPEP


#TexasNative #YellowFlower #BabyCucumber #Cucurbitaceae #MelothriaPendula #Vine #AllPlantsConsideredBlog #EndPlantBlindness

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