Family: Cucurbitaceae

Large, deciduous, perennial vine, climbing by tendrils. Yellow flowers are followed by gourds (they are not edible). This perennial plant re-emerges from its tuberous root every spring, grows in the warm season, and freezes to the ground in winter.

Full to part sun, low to moderate water, hardiness untested but native to 5,500’ elevation.

Pollinator plant, important for digger and gourd bees—males sleep in flowers. Fruits eaten by mammals.

Found in dry soils, sometimes on limestone soils; 1,500-5,500’ in south and central Arizona, southern New Mexico, southwestern TX; south into southern Mexico.

Apodanthera comes from the Greek apodos; 'wirhout a foot' and Greek antheros; 'flowering' for the sessile flowers. The species, undulata, means wavy referring to the edges of the wavy leaves.

Photo of Adpodanthera undulata by Max Licher, SEINET
Apodanthera undulata on iNaturalist