How to Grow and Care for Schizopepon

Cracking melon is a flowering herbaceous vine that produces tiny white flowers mostly pollinated by flies. It is botanically interesting because, in autumn, it produces specialized leaves that enclose fruit clusters and enhance seed production, which is a rare leaf specialization in the plant world.

Schizopepon dioicus is an Asian species of climbing vine that can be found only in China. The plant's Latin name dioicus refers to its dioecious flowers which are either male or female on each individual plant. The botanist C. Jeffrey believed he had discovered this species in India, but on further analysis, it turned out to be the similar Schizopepon longipes.