Details for: Grif 16492, Cayaponia americana (Lam.) Cogn., Grif 16492


Summary Data
Taxonomy:
Cayaponia americana (Lam.) Cogn.
Top Name:
Grif 16492
Origin:
Collected – Virgin Islands (British)
Received by NPGS:
23 Jan 2007
Improvement Status:
Uncertain improvement status
Form Received:
Seed
Life Form:
Perennial
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Availability
This accession is not available. Contact site for status.
 
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SEED

Core Passport Data
Taxonomy:
Cayaponia americana (Lam.) Cogn.
Top Name:
Grif 16492
Origin:
Collected – Virgin Islands (British)
Received by NPGS:
23 Jan 2007
Improvement Status:
Uncertain improvement status
Form Received:
Seed
Life Form:
Perennial
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Source History
Accession Names and Identifiers
Grif 16492
Type: Site identifier
Group: GRIF
S-9 Research Numbers

Narrative
A New World cucurbit perennial known by several common names including American melonleaf and Bejuco de torero (Bullfighter vine). It has reportedly been used as a remedy for scabies. You can find this species in open, moist regions at lower and middle elevations from Cuba to the Lesser Antilles. A similar species, the Mountain melonleaf, found in Florida, the Caribbean, and South America, is best distinguished from the American melonleaf by looking at the flower structure. American melonleaf has a calyx that is six to nine millimeters long with lanceolate lobes whereas mountain melonleaf's calyx is three to four millimeters long with triangular lobes. The American melonleaf is a monoecious vine that can reach heights of ten meters. This vigorous perennial produces many lateral branches, one tendril per node that branches into three. The angular longitudinally ribbed stem may be glabrous or puberulent and will have swollen nodes where new stems may form. The leaves can be five to twenty centimeters long and wide and one plant can have leaves of multiple sizes and shapes from almost heart shaped to pentalobate. This and the dark green glossy foliage make the plant very attractive even though the flowers and fruit are small and are simple. The green fruit turn burnt orange when dry, often stay on the vine, and contain few seed. The plants survive the arid climate by storing water in tuberous roots. The plant is a large strong climber producing many fruit per plant.
Cayaponia americana (Lam.) Cogn.
Genus:
Cayaponia
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Tribe:
Cucurbiteae
Nomen number:

9637
Place of publication:

A. L. P. P. de Candolle & A. C. de Candolle, Monogr. phan. 3:785. 1881
Verified:
02/19/2009 by ARS Systematic Botanists.
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Bryonia americana Lam.

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Observations

Phenotype Data

CategoryDescriptorDescriptionValueSample SizeStudyInventoryAvailability
SUBSETImageImage present in GRIN databaseSeed - Image of seed S9.CUCURBITS.IMAGE.SEEDGrif 16492 01 SDNot Available