
Creeping cucumber (Melothria pendula)
Creeping cucumber, also known as Meloncito
Creeping cucumber (Melothria pendula) is a vine known for its spreading growth habit. It features heart-shaped leaves and small, yellow flowers. The unripe fruit looks like miniature watermelons and is edible when green. As the fruit ripens, it turns dark purple to black and becomes bitter, often considered inedible due to its purgative properties.
Key Facts About Creeping cucumber
Attributes of Creeping cucumber
Lifespan
Perennial, Annual
Plant Type
Vine, Herb
Plant Height
15 cm to 20 cm
Spread
3.5 m to 4.5 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
1 mm to 2 mm
Flower Color
Yellow White
Scientific Classification of Creeping cucumber
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Cucurbitales
Family
Gourd
Genus
Melothria
Species
Creeping cucumber