Baboon cucumber
Trochomeria macrocarpa

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a climber. It grows new stems each year. The stems can be 2-6 m long. It has a woody rootstock that is fleshy and tuberous. This is large and like a yam and is deep in the ground. The leaves are 2-7 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. They are broadly oval. They are heart shaped. The have 5 lobes like fingers on a hand. It has simple tendrils. The fruit are 4-7 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are orange or red. The seeds are 9-10 mm long by 5-7 mm wide. They are white.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous woodland and savannah. It grows amongst rocks and in sand. It grows between 610-1525 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw. The roots are roasted or boiled and eaten. The central core can be bitter and is often removed.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, stems, fruit, tuber

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akwalu, Alalata, Basgo, Cifufu, Ohana

Synonyms

Trochomeria atacorensis A. Chev.; Trochomeria dalzielii Hutch.; Trochomeria macrocarpa var. kirkii Cogn.; Trochomeria macroura Hook. f.; Zehneria macrocarpa Sond.;