Common name: Wild Melon, Camel Melon, Bitter Melon
Citrullus amarus Schrad. APNI* Synonyms: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai APNI*
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus APNI*
Description: Annual trailer with hairy stems.
Leaves with lamina 3–20 cm long, 3–15 cm wide, palmately 3–5-lobed to pinnately 5–9-lobed; petiole 2–12 cm long, hairy.
Male flowers on pedicels 1–8 cm long; petals 1–1.5 cm long, yellow. Female flowers on pedicels 2–4 cm long; petals c. 1 cm long, yellow.
Fruit ± globose, 12–30 cm diam., hairy, green mottled with paler green or yellowish.
Distribution and occurrence: Mostly in semi-arid areas, particularly in disturbed sandy sites. Native of Asia, Afr.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *NWP, *SWP, *NFWP, *SFWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *W.A. *S.A. *N.T.
Text by G.J. Harden
Taxon concept:
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
|
