Artillery cyclanthera, Exploding cucumber
Cyclanthera explodens
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A pumpkin family plant. The vines are 3-5 m long. The flowers are very small and yellow and in clusters . Male and female clusters are separate on the same plant. The fruit are spiny and 5 cm long. The extensions on the fruit can explode when ripe.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It cannot tolerate frost.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andes, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, South America
How it is used for food
The small extensions over the fruit are eaten in salads. They are also pickled or boiled.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
It grows quickly.
Its other names
Local names
Pepino diablito, X-ch'ima mo'