Tropical Plant "Pepino, meloncito"
Solanum muricatum

Characteristics - The pepino is a fruit bearer native to the Andes, cultivated for centuries, by pre-Columbian people, as shown on the painted pottery from that period; recently introduced in Brazil it is already being cultivated on a small scale. It is an herbaceous perennial, deciduous, the branches decumbent, with roots at the nodes, it is less than 50 cm tall. Leaves simple, but occasionally compound, membranous, lightly bicolored, glabrous, 6-12 cm long, with impressed nerves on the top and salient on the inferior surface. Flowers androgynous, grouped in small terminal inflorescences, form almost year round. Fruits ellipsoid, with a smooth, thin skin, the pulp is succulent and slightly sweet; they mature in the summer.

Uses - The fruits are consumed, mainly, in natura (fresh) and in salads.

Propagation - by seeds and stem cuttings.