Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Melothria

Melothria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the Americas from the United States to Argentina, and with some introductions in Africa and elsewhere. A number of Old World species formerly in Melothria were reassigned to Cucumis.

Last revised
Jul 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
202 w
Citations
4
Source
Melothria
Melothria pendula (creeping cucumber) fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Benincaseae
Genus: Melothria
L.1
Species

See text

Synonyms2
List
    • Cladosicyos Hook.f.
    • Corynosicyos F.Muell.
    • Cucumeropsis Naudin
    • Diclidostigma Kunze
    • Harlandia Hance
    • Landersia Macfad.
    • Melancium Naudin
    • Posadaea Cogn.

Melothria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to the Americas from the United States to Argentina, and with some introductions in Africa and elsewhere. A number of Old World species formerly in Melothria were reassigned to Cucumis.3

Species

Currently accepted species include:2

References

References

  1. Sp. Pl.: 35 (1753)
  2. "Melothria L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. Schaefer, Hanno (2007). "Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) must include Cucumella, Dicoelospermum, Mukia, Myrmecosicyos, and Oreosyce: A recircumscription based on nuclear and plastid DNA data". Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. 52: 165–177. doi:10.3767/000651907X612427.