Cucumis argenteus
| Snake vine | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Cucumis |
| Species: | C. argenteus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cucumis argenteus | |
Cucumis argenteus commonly known as snake vine,[2] is a flowering vine in the family Cucurbitaceae. It has yellow flowers, red berries, variable leaves and grows in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Description
Cucumis argenteus is a scrambling or climbing perennial with tendrils that climb on nearby plants, leaves are almost triangular to egg-shaped, occasionally lobed, 2–11 cm (0.79–4.33 in) long, 1–11 cm (0.39–4.33 in) wide and a rough surface. The yellow flowers are borne in leaf axils on a short pedicel. Flowering occurs in summer and the fruit is a red berry 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) wide.[2]
Taxonomy and naming
This species was described in 1929 by Karel Domin who named it Melothria argentea.[3]In 2011 Ian Telford and Patrizia Sebastian changed the name to Cucumis argenteus and the change was published in Systematic Botany.[4] The specific epithet (argenteus) means "silvery".[5]
Distribution and habitat
Snake vine grows near sand dunes and sometimes in wet culverts near roadsides in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.[2][6][7]
References
- ^ "Cucumis argenteus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Kutsche, Frank; Lay, Brendan; Croft, Tim; Kellermann, Jurgen (2013). Plants of Outback South Australia. Adelaide: State Herbarium of South Australia. p. 272. ISBN 9781922027603.
- ^ "Melothria argentea". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ "Cucumis argenteus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ George, A.S; Sharr, F.A (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables. p. 139. ISBN 9780958034197.
- ^ "Cucumis argenteus". Florabase-the Western Australian flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Cucumis argenteus". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 18 July 2025.