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 and Mexican sour cucumber.

This plant is native to Mexico and Central America,^[1] 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.^[2] 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

^ William Woys Weaver (2005). "Mouse Melons". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
^ Spurrier, Jeff (2013-05-14). "Mouse melon, a.k.a. Mexican gherkin: Tiny fruit is big on cute". LA Times.

External links

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[1] William Woys Weaver (2005). "Mouse Melons". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2013-07-24.

[2] Spurrier, Jeff (2013-05-14). "Mouse melon, a.k.a. Mexican gherkin: Tiny fruit is big on cute". LA Times.

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