Question
I have a vine that keeps showing up next to my house. It has a leave similar to a Sycamore  or tulip tree leave. It has small yellow flowers in the spring/early summer with a green pea size berry that in late summer becomes a black berry. The berries when green smell a little like a cucumber but resemble a tiny watermelon. When cut open in the green form are nearly all seeds but turn to a pulpy inside when black. It mostly climbs but will grow horizontally.It seems to prefer a area where there is early day and shady in the evening. I have searched for hours on the net and have been unable to find it.. Any help would be appreciated as I would like to get rid of it.

Answer

melothria   Hi Michael,

Thanks for your question.  This is the Creeping Cucumber, also know as Guadeloupe Cucumber (Melothria pendula).  The fruit is edible when green (tastes exactly like a regular cucumber), but becomes slightly purgative when it turns black.  It's actually a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and the vine is a good animal fodder.  It's very sensitive to glyphosate salt (round-up, kilzall, etc).  If it's in an area where it can't be sprayed, you can paint it with the herbicide, or pull the vines before they  have mature fruit.  I'm including a photo.
Thanks,

Susan