Melothria scabra

Melothria scabra
Vine with fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Melothria
Species: M. scabra
Binomial name
Melothria scabra
Naudin

Melothria scabra is a vine grown for its edible fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with a tinge of sourness. Vernacular names include mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber and pepquinos.[1][2][3]

This plant is native to Mexico and Central America,[3] where it is called sandiita (little watermelon). It is believed to have been a domesticated crop before western contact began.

Development

These plants are slow-growing when they are establishing themselves, but can eventually grow up to ten feet under proper conditions. They are drought resistant and pest-resistant relative to other cucumbers.[4] Similar to the cucumber, these plants are monoecious, producing both male and female flowers on the same plant. These plants can pollinate themselves, but the individual flowers are not self-fertile. Flowers are small and yellow, about four millimeters in diameter. Fruits develop at the base of the female flower.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melothria scabra.
Wikispecies has information related to: Melothria scabra
  1. ↑ "Pepquinos - World's Smallest Watermelons". Odditycentral.com. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "'Micro melons' 20 times smaller than regular size". The Daily Telegraph. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 William Woys Weaver (2005). "Mouse Melons". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  4. ↑ Spurrier, Jeff (2013-05-14). "Mouse melon, a.k.a. Mexican gherkin: Tiny fruit is big on cute". LA Times.


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