Melothria pendula L.
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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, much branched, which climbs by tendrils, attaining 1-2 (4) m in length. Stems slender, 2-3 mm in diameter, green, slightly striate, puberulous and with some minute hairs; tendrils axillary, simple, filiform, 6-9 cm long. Leaves alternate; blades ovate or 3-5-lobed, membranaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, mucronate, the base lyrate or cordiform, the margins crenate, repand, or denticulate; upper surface green, shiny, scabrid, with the venation flat; lower surface light green, dull, scabrid, with the venation slightly prominent; petioles shorter than the blade, sulcate. Staminate and pistillate flowers in the same raceme; peduncles 2-3 cm long. Calyx yellowish green, campanulate, ca. 5 mm long; corolla pale yellow, campanulate, ca. 5 mm long, with 5 deep lobes; stamens subsessile, adnate to the corolla tube, the anthers free, the pistil with an annular disc at the base. Berry ovoid, smooth, 1.5-1.8 cm long, olive green when ripe; seeds numerous, elliptical or ovate, ca. 5 mm long, not aril late.
Phenology - Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Conservation Status - Native, very common.
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Common Names
pepinillo cimarrón