Family: Cucurbitaceae

This plant is native to tropical Africa to Australia.  It was first found growing wild on Oahu in 1909. Since then, it has spread and become naturalized around Hawai’i in disturbed areas. It is popular in Chinese and Filipino cooking.

Description and Dispersal:

• This is a vine with simple leaves
  
• There are 5 lobes which are ovate
  
• The leaves are about 4-10 cm long and 4-8 cm wide
  
• It has staminate flowers on stalks 4-80 mm long
  
• The fruit is green when young and orangish-red when ripe
  
• The fruits are ridged with subconical spines.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized outside native range
  
• Broad climate suitability (wide temp, precipitation, pH tolerance)
  
• Agricultural weed in 22+ crops, 50+ countries
  
• Unpalatable to grazing animals
  
• Toxic to animals (dogs: digestive & neurological effects)
  
• Toxic to humans (vomiting, purging, fatal in one child case)
  
• Host for crop pests (e.g., melonfly)
  
• Climbing/smothering growth habit
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Seeds bird-dispersed & survive gut passage
  
• Seeds viable 2–3 years

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not shade tolerant
  
• No vegetative reproduction (only by seed)
  
• No water, wind, or external animal dispersal
  
• No prolific seed production
  
• Herbicide-controlled (but regrowth possible)