Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Vines ), 0 by htop

htop wrote:
Buffalo Gourd, Wild Gourd, Missouri Gourd, Stinking Gourd, Fetid Gourd, Coyote Melon, Calabazilla, Chilicote (Cucurbita foetidissima), Cucurbitaceae Family, Texas native, perennial, blooms in in May through September

This is is a low growing vine that can reach a length of 20 feet. It ccurs often in sandy areas.The large 3 to 4 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide yellow flowers open in the mornings. The rough gray-green leaves are a narrow triangular shape. The leaves have a potent, disagreeable odor.especially in spring, The immature fruit is a gourd that is dark green with lighter green stripes. When ripe, it turns yellow. It undergoes dormancy after flowering and fruiting. Although many times it is a groundcover, it does go up fences and other objects that serve as support. It does not have tendrills with which to attach itself in order to climb.

For more information, see the PlantFiles: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/58001/live_view/

Morning or afternoon sunlight makes the green of the leaves which are backlit contrast with the gray-green of those that are not. This is when I like to view the plant the best.