What is the noted effect of consuming ripe *Melothria pendula* fruit?
Answer
Powerful laxative effect
A critical distinction for consumers involves the wild relative, the creeping cucumber (*Melothria pendula*), which belongs to the same genus as the garden cucamelon. While the unripe fruit of *M. pendula* might sometimes be eaten green, the consensus shifts significantly once the fruit ripens. The mature fruit of *M. pendula* is specifically described as possessing a powerful laxative effect, which is a crucial difference consumers must recognize to avoid an unexpected purgative reaction, unlike the standard savory fruit of *M. scabra*.
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