''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, Madagascar, and Fernando de Noronha, 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'' 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 Afri ...

'' 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 Afri ...

'' 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 Afri ...

'' (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 Afri ...

'' (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 Afri ...

'' 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 Afri ...

'' (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 Afri ...

'' (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 Afri ...

'' 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 Afri ...

'' 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 Afri ...

'' (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 Afri ...

'' 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 Afri ...

'' 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'' Gomes-Klein *'' Cayaponia cordata'' (Cogn.) P. Duchen & S.S. Renner *'' Cayaponia cordifolia'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia coriacea'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia cruegeri'' (Naudin) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia denticulata'' Killip ex C. Jeffrey *''

Cayaponia diffusa ''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 Af ...

'' Silva Manso *'' Cayaponia diversifolia'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia domingensis'' (Cogn.) H. Schaef. & M. Nee *'' Cayaponia dubia'' Rose *'' Cayaponia duckei'' Harms *'' Cayaponia elliptica'' 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'' Gomes-Klein *''

Cayaponia ficifolia ''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 cu ...

'' (Lam.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia flaminensis'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia floribunda'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia fluminensis'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia glandulosa'' (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia glazivoii'' Cogn. *''

Cayaponia globosa ''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 Af ...

'' Silva Manso *'' Cayaponia gracillima'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia granatensis'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia grandiflora'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia grandifolia'' (Torr. & A. Gray) *'' Cayaponia guianensis'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia hammelii'' Grayum *'' Cayaponia heterophylla'' (Naudin) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia hirsuta'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia jenmanii'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia kathematophora'' R.E. Schult. *'' Cayaponia laciniosa'' (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'' A.K. Monro *'' Cayaponia macrantha'' Pittier *'' Cayaponia macrocalyx'' Harms *''

Cayaponia martiana ''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 Af ...

Cayaponia prunifera ''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 Af ...

'' (Poepp. & Endl.) P. Duchen & S.S. Renner *'' Cayaponia psederifolia'' Standl. ex J.F. Macbr. *'' Cayaponia quinqueloba'' (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 Af ...

'' (Mill.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia reticulata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia rigida'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia rugosa'' Gomes-Klein & Pirani *'' Cayaponia ruizii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia saldanhaei'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia sandia'' Cogn. ex Griseb. *'' Cayaponia schenckii'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia selysioides'' C. Jeffrey *'' Cayaponia sessiliflora'' Wunderlin *'' Cayaponia setulosa'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia simplicifolia'' (Naudin) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia smithii'' 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 cu ...

'' (Vell.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia ternata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia tessmannii'' Harms *'' Cayaponia tibiricae'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia tomentosa'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia triangularis'' (Cogn.) Cogn. *'' Cayaponia trichocalyx'' Killip & Cuatrec. *'' Cayaponia trifoliata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia trifoliolata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia trilobata'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia tubulosa'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia ulei'' Cogn. ex Harms *'' Cayaponia villosissima'' Cogn. *'' Cayaponia weddellii'' (Naudin) Cogn.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4269007 Cucurbitaceae genera Cucurbitoideae