Papuasicyos papuanus

(Cogn.) Duyfjes

Cucurbitaceae Edible: Fruit

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Meise Botanic Garden

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Meise Botanic Garden

gbif· cc-by

Meise Botanic Garden

Description

A pumpkin family herb. It is a climber. It can be 6 m long. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The leaves are simple and oval and 4-15 cm long by 2-10 cm wide. The tendrils are simple. The male flowers occur in groups 5-8 cm long in groups of 10 or more flowers. The female flowers occur singly. The fruit are oblong and narrowed at both ends. They are 2-3 cm long by1 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. In Papua New Guinea it occurs near the Strickland River. It grows in lowland swamp forest.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia, Papua, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia,

Notes

There are 8 species of Papuasicyos in Papua New Guinea and they may have edible fruit.

Synonyms

Melothria papuana Cogn.

References (2)

Schaefer, H. and Renners, S. S., Cucurbitaceae in Kubitzki, K., (Ed.), 2011, The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 10, Springer. p 160
Blumea, 2003, 48:124,