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
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