Description

• Melothria pendula, commonly known as creeping cucumber or Guadeloupe cucumber, is a slender, climbing or trailing vine in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). It has curling tendrils, thin stems, and small, triangular to heart-shaped leaves with toothed or shallowly lobed margins. Its small, yellow flowers grow singly or in small groups in the leaf axils. The plant produces smooth, oval berries that are green when immature and turn dark purple to nearly black as they ripen. Although the fruits resemble miniature cucumbers, they can cause gastrointestinal upset, particularly when unripe or consumed in quantity, so they should not be eaten without reliable identification and guidance.

Range

• Melothria pendula is native to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean into parts of South America. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.

Habitat

• This vine grows in warm environments with sufficient moisture, including forest edges, thickets, streamside vegetation, hedgerows, and disturbed areas. It often scrambles over grasses, shrubs, and fences, using its tendrils to climb. It can grow in partially shaded sites as well as sunny openings, particularly where seasonal rainfall supports vigorous growth.