Paddy melon

Paddy melon
Paddy melon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cucumis
Species: C. myriocarpus
Binomial name
Cucumis myriocarpus
E. Mey. ex Naud.

The paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus) is a prostrate or climbing annual herb native to southern Africa. It has round spiky yellow-green or green-striped fruit; the fruit and foliage are toxic due to the presence of cucurbitacin. The plant has been known to kill livestock. It has been used by humans as an emetic.[1]

The melon is a weed in Australia and in California, where it may also be known as prickly paddy melon, bitter apple, and gooseberry gourd.[1]

The plant occurs in Spain, where it is naturalized and known by the common names of "habanera" or "sandía habanera."[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c McKenzie R.A. et al. (1988). Prickly paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus) poisoning of cattle. Australian Veterinary Journal 65(6):167-70.

External links