Sechium mexicanum; Cucurbitaceae

Sechium mexicanum Lira & M. NeeExtremely steep slopes, top of canyon at edge of plateau, volcanic bedrock, with Quercus spp., Pinus patula, Alnus acuminata spp. Arguta, Arbutus xalapensis. Abundant vines on roadside and climbing into trees and over cliffs. Vines on ground sterile, some climbing ones abundantly floriferous. Leaves highly variable, even on the same stem; flowering stems with leaves mostly only angulate, some sterile stems with deeply lobed leaves; apparently only one Cucurbitacea here. Flowers odorless; buds of male flowers swollen, widely conical; male flowers much more abundant, yellow-green with green lines on corolla lobes, the lobes 4 or 5 (rarely some irregularly 6), spreading; two sunken nectar pits per lobe and central white patch present; anthers a yellow-head. Female flowers smaller, but none seen in anthesis. Fruits 1-4 per inflorescence, seem to have no spines or bristles at any stage; largest fruits obovoid, 2 x 2.5 cm wide, 3.3 cm long, light green with raised greenish white spots and 5-9 narrow, shallow, darker green longitudinal grooves, with taste of green fruits of Cucumis sativus, but not excessively bitter