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mountain melonleaf

Scientific Name: Cayaponia racemosa

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Vine, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Cayaponia racemosa: Mountain Melonleaf

Cayaponia racemosa, commonly known as Mountain Melonleaf, is a perennial vine belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family.

Considerations for Pets

  • This plant is a vine.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cayaponia racemosa (P. Mill.) Cogn.
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Family: Cucurbitaceae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonyms: Mentions Cayaponia americana, Cayaponia quinqueloba and Colocynth Citrullus colocynthis though these may be other common names, other species, or related plants.
  • Common Names: Mountain Melonleaf, American Melonleaf, Fivelobe Cucumber, Coloquintilla

Morphology and Growth Habit

  • Cayaponia racemosa is described as a vine, forb, or herb with a perennial duration.

Distribution and Habitat

  • The plant is mentioned as being found in the Yucatan.
  • It is native to the USA, including Florida and Tennessee.

Edibility

  • The plant is said to have an edible leaf that is cookable, however the plant's fruit is not edible.

Further Information

  • Discover Life has a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Cayaponia racemosa.
  • Information about this plant can also be found on Garden Guides and the PLANTS database.