''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the

gourd Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly ''Cucurbita'' and ''Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the earli ...

family,

Cucurbitaceae The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are: *''Cucurbita'' – squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds *''Lagena ...

, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the

southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

. Some species are also found in western Africa,

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

, and

Fernando de Noronha Fernando de Noronha () is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, and located off the Brazilian coast. It consists of 21 islands and islets, extending over an area of . Only the eponymous main island is inha ...

, which is about 354 km off the coast of Brazil. It is native the southern United States to central South America and the Caribbean islands. Most species are found in rainforests and have white or yellow-green flowers. The original ''Cayaponia'' were pollinated by bats, but at least two shifts to bee pollination have occurred among some of its species. This is apparently the first

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

to shift from bat to bee pollination vice bee to bat pollination. A 2011 study based on genetics placed the genus ''

Selysia ''Selysia'' is a genus of the Cucurbitaceae, gourd family. A 2011 study based on genetics placed it under the genus ''Cayaponia''. Species References External links

Cucurbitaceae genera Cucurbitoideae Taxa named by Alfred Cogniau ...

'' under this genus. Brazilian botanist

António Luiz Patricio da Silva Manso Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular mal ...

named this genus after the indigenous Cayapo people of Brazil.

Species

There are around 120 species in the genus: *'' Cayaponia africana'' (Hook. f.) Exell *'' Cayaponia alarici'' M. Porto *''

Cayaponia alata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia almeideana ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Sald. & Cogn. *''

Cayaponia amazonica ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia americana ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Lam.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia andreana ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia angustiloba ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia attenuata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Hook. & Arn.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia aubia ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Rose *''

Cayaponia austin-smithii ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Standl. *''

Cayaponia bidentata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Hampshire) P. Duchen & S.S. Renner *''

Cayaponia biflora ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. ex Harms *''

Cayaponia boliviensis ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia bonariensis'' (Mill.) Mart. *'' Cayaponia bonplandii'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia botryocarpa'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia boykinii'' (Torr. & A. Gray) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia buraeavii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia cabocla'' Mart. *'' Cayaponia calycina'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia capitata'' Cogn. ex Harms *'' Cayaponia caulobotrys'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia citrullifolia'' (Griseb.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia coccinea'' André ex Cogn. *''

Cayaponia cogniauxiana ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Gomes-Klein *''

Cayaponia cordata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Cogn.) P. Duchen & S.S. Renner *'' Cayaponia cordifolia'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia coriacea ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia cruegeri ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Naudin) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia denticulata'' Killip ex C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia diffusa'' Silva Manso *''

Cayaponia diversifolia ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia domingensis ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Cogn.) H. Schaef. & M. Nee *''

Cayaponia dubia ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Rose *''

Cayaponia duckei ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Harms *''

Cayaponia elliptica ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Silva Manso *'' Cayaponia eriantha'' *''

Cayaponia espelina ''Cayaponia espelina'', also known as the São Caetano melon, is a plant native to Brazil. It is a diuretic and aid in the treatment of diarrhea and syphilis. The fruits are occasionally eaten by the maned wolf (''Chrysocyon brachyurus The ma ...

'' (Silva Manso) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia excisa'' (Griseb.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia ferruginea ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Gomes-Klein *'' Cayaponia ficifolia'' (Lam.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia flaminensis'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia floribunda'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia fluminensis'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia glandulosa ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia glazivoii ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia globosa'' Silva Manso *'' Cayaponia gracillima'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia granatensis'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia grandiflora'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia grandifolia ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Torr. & A. Gray) *'' Cayaponia guianensis'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia hammelii'' Grayum *'' Cayaponia heterophylla'' (Naudin) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia hirsuta'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia jenmanii'' C. Jeffrey *''

Cayaponia kathematophora ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' R.E. Schult. *''

Cayaponia laciniosa ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (L.) C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia latebrosa'' (Aiton) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia latifolia'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia laxa'' Cogn. ex Harms *'' Cayaponia leucosticta'' Standl. *'' Cayaponia lhotskyana'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia longifolia'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia longiloba ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' A.K. Monro *'' Cayaponia macrantha'' Pittier *''

Cayaponia macrocalyx ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Harms *'' Cayaponia martiana'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia maximowiczii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia membranacea'' Gomes-Klein *''

Cayaponia metensis ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cuatrec. *'' Cayaponia micrantha'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia microdonta ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' S.F. Blake *'' Cayaponia multiglandulosa'' R. Fern. *'' Cayaponia nitida'' Gomes-Klein & Pirani *'' Cayaponia noronhae'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia oerstedii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia ophthalmica'' R.E. Schult. *''

Cayaponia oppositifolia ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Harms *'' Cayaponia ottoniana'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia ovata'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia palmata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia paraensis ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Harms *'' Cayaponia pedata'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia pentaphylla ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia peruviana ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia petiolulata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia piauhiensis'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia pilosa'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia podantha'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia poeppigii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia prunifera'' (Poepp. & Endl.) P. Duchen & S.S. Renner *'' Cayaponia psederifolia'' Standl. ex J.F. Macbr. *''

Cayaponia quinqueloba ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Raf.) Shinners *''

Cayaponia racemosa ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' (Mill.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia reticulata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia rigida'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia rugosa'' Gomes-Klein & Pirani *'' Cayaponia ruizii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia saldanhaei'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia sandia'' Cogn. ex Griseb. *''

Cayaponia schenckii ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia selysioides ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia sessiliflora'' Wunderlin *'' Cayaponia setulosa'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia simplicifolia'' (Naudin) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia smithii ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Standl. *'' Cayaponia subsessilis'' (Cogn.) Sandw. & Cheesm. *''

Cayaponia tayuya ''Cayaponia tayuya'' (tayuya or taiuiá) is a vine that grows in the Amazon region of South America, in the nations of Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. Its roots are used in herbal medicine. Studies in rodent models have shown that several cucurbitac ...

'' (Vell.) Cogn. *''

Cayaponia ternata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia tessmannii'' Harms *'' Cayaponia tibiricae'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia tomentosa ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia triangularis'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia trichocalyx'' Killip & Cuatrec. *''

Cayaponia trifoliata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia trifoliolata ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia trilobata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia tubulosa'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia ulei ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. ex Harms *''

Cayaponia villosissima ''Cayaponia'' is the largest genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with about 60 species. The plants are referred to as melonleaf. They are common from the southern United States to South America. Some species are also found in western Africa ...

'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia weddellii'' (Naudin) Cogn.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4269007 Cucurbitaceae genera Cucurbitoideae