This tall, strong climber is a native of tropical America. Its leaves are broadly ovate, and the strong stems are purplish in color. The large, interesting flowers are from 3 to 5 inches across. The sepals are linear and violet shaded, the petals are very narrow and lilac. The many rows of filaments in the crown are violet with bars of white below the middle, the inner and shorter set being deep violet. The oblong fruit attains a size from 5 to 9 inches in length, and in color is a pale, yellowish green. The succulent, edible pulp of its hollow center has an agreeable sub-acid flavor, and contains many flat seeds. This vine bears well where there are bees; artificial fertilization also increases the number of its fruits.