74; see text Cayaponia is among the largest genera in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with 74 species.

They are common from the southern United States to South America.

Some species are also found in western Africa, Madagascar, and Fernando de Noronha, which is about 354 km (220 mi) off the coast of Brazil.

[3][4] Most species are found in rainforests and have white or yellow-green flowers.

[6] Brazilian botanist António Luiz Patricio da Silva Manso named this genus after the indigenous Cayapo people of Brazil.