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.