Karivia javanica Miquel, Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(1): 661. 1856; Cucumis javanicus (Miquel) Ghebretinsae & Thulin; Melothria assamica Chakravarty; M. assamica var. scabra Chakravarty; M. javanica (Miquel) Cogniaux.

Plants scandent. Stem and branches slender, hispid. Petiole shortly hispid; leaf blade ovate-cordate, 4-6 × 3-5(-7) cm, usually 3-5-lobed, median lobe ovate-triangular, both surfaces shortly hispid, margin dentate, apex acuminate. Tendrils slender, hispid. Male flowers 2 to several, fasciculate, in leaf axils; pedicel very short, 2-3 mm, shortly hispid; calyx tube cupular, 2-2.5 mm; segments erect, subulate, 1.5-2.5 mm; corolla yellow; segments ovate-oblong, 3-4 mm, apex obtuse; stamens inserted on calyx tube; filaments ca. 0.5 mm, puberulent; anthers 1.5-2 mm; connective produced. Female flowers fasciculate in same axil as male flowers; calyx tube cupular; segments triangular, ca. 0.5 × 0.3 mm; corolla segments ovate-oblong, ca. 2.5 × 1.5 mm, 3-veined; ovary ovoid, 3-4 × 1.5-2.5 mm, densely hispid; style ca. 1 mm, apex 3-lobed; staminodes glandular. Fruiting pedicel 2-4 mm, densely hispid; fruit red, oblong, 1-1.5 × ca. 1 cm. Seeds ovate, ca. 4 × 2.5 mm, margin prominent. Fl. Apr-Jul, fr. Jul-Oct.

Forests, grasslands on mountain slopes; 500-1200 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].