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(Last Modified On 8/1/2013)
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(Last Modified On 8/1/2013)
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Species
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Melothria scabra Naud.
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PlaceOfPublication
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Alln. Sci. Nat. Bot., ser. 5. 6: 10. 1867.
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Synonym
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Melothria donnell-smithii Cogn., Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 16: 9. 1891. TYPE: Guatemala, Smith 2203 (US, holotype). Melothria donnell-smithii var. hirtella Cogn., Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 16: 9. 1891. TYPE: Smith 2206 (US, holotype). Melothria donnell-smithii var. rotundifolia Cogn., Bot. Gaz. (Crawfordsville) 16: 9. 1891. TYPE: Guatemala, Smith 2208 (US, holotype). Melothria pendula Mottet, Rev. Hort. 660. 1900; non L., 1753. TYPE: not known.
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Description
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Vines; stems scabrous, short pilose, or glabrate. Leaves cordate, entire, or shallowly 3- to 5-lobate , 3-7(10) cm long, up to as wide as long, the apex acu- minate to caudate, the base cordate, the margin undulate or dentate, minutely and remotely toothed, chartaceous, the upper surface scabrous with white pustu- late based trichomes, short pilose on the veins, the lower surface short pilose, at least on the veins; petioles 2-4 cm long, short pilose, scabrous, or glabrate; tendrils simple, glabrate. Staminate flowers in axillary, long pedunculate ra- cemes, the rachis 2-4 cm long, filiform, short pilose or glabrate, 2- to 7-flowered; pedicels 2-3 mm long; calyx campanulate, the lobes triangular, ca. 1 mm long, short pilose or glabrate; corolla yellow, the lobes ovate oblong, rounded to slightly emarginate, spreading, the outer surface appressed pubescent, the inner surface glabrate; anthers subquadrate, ciliate; pistillode globose, glabrous. Pis- tillate flowers solitary; peduncles 1-3 cm long, glabrate; calyx and corolla as in the staminate flowers; ovary ellipsoid, glabrate, smooth; staminodia minute, an- theriferous. Fruits green with darker green stripes, 2.5-4.0 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, smooth, glabrous, baccate; seeds white sericeous, ovoid, 2-4 mm long, 2.0-2.5 mm wide.
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Habit
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Vines
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Note
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Melothria scabra occurs in moist forests and thickets
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Distribution
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from Mexico south to Panama
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Note
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It is easily confused with the more common M. pendula, but differs in its larger, dark and light green striped fruits. Sterile specimens of the two spe- cies often can not be distinguished with certainty.
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Specimen
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BOCAS DEL TORO: Changuinola, Carleton 75 (US). Chiriquicito to 5 mi S of Rio Gua- rumo, Lewis et al. 2090 (GH, MO). CANAL ZONE: Las Cascadas Plantation near summit, Standley 25680, 25749 (both US). Cerro Gordo near Culebra, Standley 25984, 26007 (both US). Old Las Cruces Trail between Fort Clayton and Corozal, Standley 29118 (US). Las Cascadas Plantation near Summit, Standley 29492 (US). CHIRIQUI: From Boquete to 3 mi N, Lewis et al. 370 (GH, MO, US). COCLE': El Valle de Anton, Lewis et al. 2587 (MO). PA- NAMA: 2 mi N of Rio Chagres along Boyd Roosevelt Highway, Blum & Tyson 1982 (FSU, MO). San Jose Island, Johnston 397 (MO, US). Chimaln, Lewis et al. 3297 (MO). Around Alhajuela, Pittier 2359 (US).
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