Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - November 22, 2014
From: Floresville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Poisonous Plants, Vines
Title: Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants would not advise eating the fruit of Melothria pendula (Guadeloupe cucumber). Here is what Delena Tull says in Edible and Useful Plants of the Southwest: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona:
"Consider wild gourds not listed here to be potentially toxic. The gourds of Melothria species (a tiny green cucumberlike fruit) and of balsam apple, Momordica species (a yellow or orange spiny fruit), have caused poisoning (Ellis 1978)."
According to the North Carolina State Plant Database it is of low toxicity, but it is a strong laxative causing diarrhea.
You will find, however, that there are those who have eaten them and claim the pale green ones are fine to eat or put in salads. The ripe ones are the potential troublemakers. You can read about this at Eat the Weeds by Green Deane.
From the Image Gallery
More Vines Questions
Care and fruiting time of pumpkins
October 06, 2007 - This is my first year growing pumpkin. I have a good vine with flowers now & then, but I still don't see a little pumpkin forming. What am I doing wrong?
view the full question and answer
Propagation of trumpet vine
September 07, 2008 - We have a trumpet vine growing in our yard and a friend wants to grow one in her yard. Can we dry the seed pod out and use it to start a plant for next spring?
view the full question and answer
Identification of vine in Stony Brook NY
May 29, 2009 - Identify- vine type, Thorny stem, medium size leaves, color medium green with a jagged-reddish edge, leaf shape oblong, small white flowers.
Growing in a patch of English green ivy.
Looks invasive. ...
view the full question and answer
Plants to trail down wall in South Carolina
February 07, 2008 - Good day,
I am putting in a stacked mortarless concrete block retaining wall which will rise to the forest floor along a cut bank - about 4 feet high. Each course steps back about one inch from th...
view the full question and answer
Native plants with little sun and northern exposure for New York
April 26, 2006 - I live in a co-op and want to fix up the backyard. The backyard area has a west area to plant with a northern exposure and little sun and I am looking to plant something to cover the area. I would lik...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |