Blackledge Mirliton variety picked at full maturity for seed. These are old fruit (March 11, 2013) so there is no telling what the variety looked like fresh. The Blackledges told me the variety came fromt he West bank of New Orleans in the 1940s. Unfortunately the Blackledges died and their son was unable to keep the extensive trellis system going. But many growers in the Pearl River area purchased seeds from them. If you have this variety, please contact us at lance@mirliton.org
Blackledge trellis. Very extensive and frost damaged.
Trellis
Big vine means these were old plants.
Probably a fruit that was picked late so it looks more like the fresh fruit would have looked. Spines tend to grow on older fruit.