Melothria pendula
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melothria pendula (commonly known as the creeping cucumber, Guadalupe cucumber, mouse melon, and meloncito) is a plant in the Benincaseae tribe. The plant is especially prominent in the Southeastern United States. The plant resembles the cultivated cucumber, possessing miniature yellow flowers, similar leaf shape, same leaf patterns, as well as similar growth patterns. The unripe berries strongly resemble minuscule watermelons.[1][2]
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| Melothria pendula | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Melothria |
| Species: | M. pendula |
| Binomial name | |
| Melothria pendula | |
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Etymology
Toxicity
The ripe berries, which are black, have powerful laxative qualities when consumed. The root, vines, leaves, and flowers have unknown toxicity.[3]
Edibility
The berries, when unripe and light green can be eaten raw. Dogs are known to eat the leaves without any apparent side effects.[4]
Ecology
The larvae of Hypercompe cunigunda have been recorded feeding on this plant.
