Practical
Plants

Cucumis melo flexuosus

Serpent Melon

an annual member of the Cucumis genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cucumis
Life cycle
annual
Height
1.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo[9].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[3]. The fruits can be more than 1 metre long. They have a flavour rather like cucumber and are very refreshing when eaten raw in hot weather[3]. They can also be added to curries, cooked, preserves or pickled[3]. Seed - raw[8][11][2]. Rich in oil with a nutty flavour but very fiddly to use because the seed is small and covered with a fibrous coat[K]. The seed contains between 12.5 - 39.1% oil[7]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[2][3].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruits can be used as a cooling light cleanser or moisturiser for the skin[6]. They are also used as a first aid treatment for burns and abrasions[6]. The flowers are expectorant and emetic[7]. The fruit is stomachic[7]. The seed is antitussive, digestive, febrifuge and vermifuge[7]. When used as a vermifuge, the whole seed complete with the seed coat is ground into a fine flour, then made into an emulsion with water and eaten. It is then necessary to take a purge in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the body[10]. The root is diuretic and emetic[7].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Probably native of Asia, though it has been in cultivation for so long its native habitat is obscure
Habitat
Derived through cultivation, it is not known in a truly wild location.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin out to the best plant. Grow them on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts, giving them cloche or frame protection for at least their first few weeks if you are trying them outdoors.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a warm, very sunny position[5]. A frost-tender annual plant, the serpent melon is sometimes cultivated in gardens and commercially, especially in warmer climates than Britain, for its edible fruit. Some varieties may succeed outdoors in Britain in hot summers but in general it is best to grow melons under protection in this country[1][5]. Grows well with corn and sunflowers but dislikes potatoes[4][6]. The weeds fat hen and sow thistle improve the growth and cropping of melons[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  9. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  10. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩

  11. Organ. J. Gourds. Faber 1963-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page