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(Last Modified On 7/31/2013)
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(Last Modified On 7/31/2013)
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Genus
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Melothria L.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Sp. P1. 1753
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Note
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TYPE: M. pendula L.
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Synonym
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Landersia Macf., Fl. Jam. 2: 142. 1837. TYPE: not designated. Aechmandra Arn., J. Bot. (Hooker) 3: 274. 1841. TYPE: not designated. Diclidostigma Kunze, Linnaea 17: 576. 1843. TYPE: D. nielothrioides Kunze.
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Description
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Monoecious, tendriled vines; stems 5- to 10-sulcate. Leaves petiolate, simple, entire or lobate; tendrils simple. Staminate flowers axillary, racemose; calyx campanulate to subcylindric, 5-lobate; corolla yellow or white, deeply 5-lobate; stamens 3, free, inserted on the hypanthium wall, the anthers oblong or suborbic- ular, 1 unilocular, 2 bilocular; pistillode globose or conic. Pistillate flowers soli- tary; calyx and corolla as in the staminate flowers; ovary ovoid to fusiform, 3- carpellate, the ovules numerous, horizontal, the styles 3, connate, short, the base surrounded by a ringlike disc, the stigmas 3, linear; staminodia 3. Fruit ovoid to fusiform; seeds ovoid or ellipsoidal, compressed, sericeous.
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Habit
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vines
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Distribution
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Melothria is a genus of about 10 species confined primarily to the New World tropics.
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Note
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Cogniaux placed 85 species in the genus. A narrower view is taken here following Jeffrey (1962), recognizing the Old World genera Zehneria, Solena, and Mukia as distinct from Melothria.
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Key
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a. Leaves 5- to 7-lobate nearly to base ...... 4. M. trilobata aa. Leaves cordate to sagittate, rarely shallowly 3- to 5-lobate. b. Fruit 0.7-1.5 cm long, solid green or black at maturity ......n2. M. pendula bb. Fruit 2.5-7.0 cm long, not solid green or black at maturity. c. Fruit irregularly light and dark green striped at maturity, pulp greenish white, exocarp thin; corolla yellow ...... 3. M. scabra cc. Fruit yellow or orange at maturity, pulp orange, exocarp subligneous; co- rolla white ...... 1. M. duilcis
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