Cucumis althaeoides facts for kids

Cucumis althaeoides is a type of climbing plant, also known as a vine. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes plants like cucumbers and melons. This vine grows naturally in parts of Northern Australia.

About the Cucumis althaeoides Plant

Cucumis althaeoides is a plant that can either trail along the ground or climb upwards. It's a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. Most of its parts, like its stems and leaves, are covered in tiny hairs or bristles.

Plant Parts and How They Grow

Its stems can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) long and are quite thin, around 1.6 millimeters wide. These stems have ridges and grow new shoots every year from a special underground rootstock. This rootstock helps the plant survive through different seasons.

To help it climb, Cucumis althaeoides has simple tendrils. These are like thin, curly wires that can reach up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. They wrap around other plants or objects to pull the vine upwards.

The leaves of this plant are shaped like an oval or a narrow spear (this is called lanceolate). They are usually between 24 and 75 millimeters long and 18 to 70 millimeters wide. Each leaf has a leaf stalk that can be up to 18 millimeters long.

Flowers and Fruit

The plant has separate male and female flowers, but both types grow on the same plant. This is called being monoecious. These flowers grow in clusters.

The fruit of Cucumis althaeoides is round, like a small ball, and measures about 8 to 18 millimeters across. When it's young, it's a pale green color with darker green stripes. As the fruit ripens, it turns more red. Inside, you'll find 9 to 25 seeds. The seeds are oval-shaped and about 3.8 to 4.5 millimeters long.

Naming the Cucumis althaeoides Plant

The scientific name for this plant, Cucumis althaeoides, was officially given in 2011. Two botanists, I.Telford and P.Sebastian, described it as part of their research on Cucumis plants in Australia.

Before 2011, this plant was known by several other names. These older names, called synonyms, include Mukia scabrella, Mukia maderaspatana, Melothria maderaspatana, Melothria althaeoides, and Cucumis maderaspatanus.

Where Cucumis althaeoides Lives

Cucumis althaeoides is found across many parts of northern Australia. It has a "scattered distribution," meaning it grows in many different places but not in one continuous area.

You can find this vine in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and the northeastern part of New South Wales. In Western Australia, it grows in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. For example, in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, this plant has been seen in three spots along the Apsley River and Green Gully Creek.