Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. ex Spach
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro. 2005. Vines and climbing plants of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 51: 1-483.
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Family
Cucurbitaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Herbaceous vine, creeping or climbing by axillary tendrils, which attains 1.5 m in length. Stems much branched, slender, angular, sulcate, hispid on the angular margins; tendrils simple, longer than the leaves. Leaves alternate; blades 2.5-7.5 x 2-7 cm, ovate or trilobed, the lobes obtuse, the base cordiform, the apex obtuse, the margins dentate or entire; upper surface dull, scabrid; lower surface pale green, dull, scabrid, with prominent venation and hispidulous; petioles sulcate. hispidulous or hispid, 1.5-5 (12) cm long. Flowers solitary, the staminate flowers sometimes in axillary fascicles; calyx campanulate, 3.6-5.2 mm. long, hispidulous, the lobes narrowly oblong or linear, 1.6-4 mm long, hispidulous; corolla pale yellow, campanulate. hispidulous outside, the tube 1-1.5 mm long, the lobes obovate, acute, 5.5-8.5 mm long. Berry ellipsoid or globose, densely spiny (spines ca. 1 cm long), 3-6.5 cm long, pale yellow; seeds numerous, elliptical, cream-colored, 4-5 mm long.
Phenology - Collected in flower in April and in fruit from April to June.
Conservation Status - Exotic, naturalized, uncommon.