Goldencreeper

Gourd or Melon (Cucurbitaceae family):

Thladiantha dubia Bunge

EPPO code:

THDDU

Other names:

Thladianthe

Species information

Lifecycle:

Perennial.

Propagation:

Reproduces by underground tubers.

Emergence:

Goldencreeper’s shoots emerge from a tuber; peak emergence takes place typically in late May to early June.

Habitat:

This species can be found in scattered regions in southern Ontario. Most commonly, though, it is found in old gardens, along roadsides, and in waste areas and cultivated fields.

Competitiveness:

No information exists on the competitiveness of this species, but its climbing nature can negatively affect harvesting efficiency.

Identification clues

Young plant

Young leaves:

Goldencreeper has alternate leaf orientation. Leaves grow on short stalks and are broadly heart shaped with a deep, rounded U-shaped base, smooth margins and a slender, pointed tip that stretches out beyond the rest of the leaf. The leaves have rough hair on both surfaces.

Mature leaves:

Mature leaves appear the same as the species’ first leaves, only larger.

Mature plant

Stems:

The plant has slender, twining, vine-like stems that climb over other plants or spread over the ground by way of tendrils. Each stem can be 1–2 m in length.

Flowers:

Goldencreeper produces showy, bright yellow flowers. Goldencreeper has only male (pollen-producing) flowers. The plant blooms from July to September.

Roots:

Goldencreeper has large, fleshy, underground, fingerling potato-like tubers that are wide spreading and very persistent.

Often mistaken for

I know it's not Wild cucumber because wild cucumber leaves have five lobes, and its fruit resemble small, spiny cucumbers. Goldencreeper’s leaves, on the other hand, are broad and heart-shaped and the plant produces fingerling potato-like tubers.