Melothria cucumis
Vell.
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(c) Frederico Acaz Sonntag, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Frederico Acaz Sonntag
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Frederico Acaz Sonntag, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Frederico Acaz Sonntag
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) naneumann, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaMelothria cucumis is a species of flowering plant in the cucurbit family native to Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and parts of Argentina and Brazil. It is a herbaceous vine which produces oblong-ovoid green fruits 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) long and 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1.0 in) wide. Plants use tendrils to climb.
Description
A climber. It grows each year from seed. The leaves are round with 5 angles or lobes. They are 3-9 cm long. The fruit are oval and 30-40 mm long by 20-25 mm wide. The seeds are oval and 7 mm long by 3.5 mm wide.
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten raw or used in pickles.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten raw or used in pickles.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil*, Paraguay, South America*, Uruguay,
Also Known As
Pepininho, Pepino-de-sapo, Popino
References (4)
- Brack, P., et al, 2020, Frutas nativas do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: riqueza e potencial alimentício. Native fruits of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: richness and potential as food. Rodriguésia 71: e03102018.
- Kinupp, V. F., 2007, Plantas alimenticias nao-convencionais da regiao metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil p 75
- Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 297
- www.colecionandofrutas.org
