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Scientific Name | Apodanthera undulata | USDA PLANTS Symbol | APUN |
Common Name | Melon-loco | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 22344 |
Family | Cucurbitaceae (Gourd) | SEINet Reference |
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Description | Habitat: Sandy soils in dry washes, along river banks, on plains and mesas. Plant: Coarse, perennial, prostrate vine with gray to green pubescent foliage; stems with tendrils growing along ground from a large root; branches up to 10 feet long; foul or disagreeable odor. Leaves: Alternate, kidney (reniform)-shaped blades, 2-3/8 to 3-1/2 inches long and 2-3/4 to 4 inches wide on petioles up to 1-1/4 inches long; green or gray-green with pubescent hairs; undulate margins. Inflorescence: Yellow, showy, funnelform or tube shaped, monecious with male and female flowers on same plants; staminate (male) flowers in racemes from lower leaf axils, solitary pistillate (female) flowers from upper leaf axils; corolla with 5 distinct lobes up to 1-1/2 inches long; 3 stamens with distinct anthers. Bloom Period: May to September. Fruit: Gourd, mostly oval up to 4 inches long, with raised parallel longitudinal ridges along the hard outer shell. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, SEINet and Southwest Desert Flora. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |