Melothria scabra

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

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 colonization of the Americas 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

  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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