Melothria pendula

creeping cucumber, drooping melonnettle, guadeloupe cucumber, meloncito, speckled gourd
Family

Cucurbitaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

denticulate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

orbicular, palmate lobed

Growth Form

forb, vine

Flower Color

yellow

Flower Petals

5

Flower Month

April

Height (meters)

0.4 - 2.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

FAC

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

0

Natural History

The seeds are reputed to be purgative. Melothria pendula is found in sandy and moist rich soils, climbing on shrubs and small trees, throughout Louisiana and near the coast in south Texas. It ranges from Florida, west to Texas, and north to Virginia.

Habitat

Alluvial woods, thickets, roadsides, river banks, fence rows, usually moist areas.