Cucurbitaceae

Cucumis myriocarpus

Common Names: Prickly paddy melon

Plant Form: Creeping annual herb. Size: Up to 2 m tall. Stem: Cylindrical, rough, green. Leaves: Alternating along stem, up to 8 cm long and wide, nearly hairless upper, hairy to bristly below, deeply lobed. Flowers: Small, yellow, inconspicuous to 6 mm diameter, in clusters of 2-4. Fruit and Seeds: Green to yellow elliptical melon, occasionally striped or mottled, with soft and often hooked spines. Habitat: Grassy areas, open woodlands, roadsides, streams. Distinguishing Features: Similar to Afghan melon (Citrullus lanatus) which has larger fruit (up to 15 cm diameter) without spines, and also larger brown seeds. Impacts: Toxic to livestock and humans, possibly allelopathic, vector for pests and diseases.

Small spiny fruit

Leaves and Flower

Growth form