Coccinia palmata

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family herb. It is a climber. The stem is smooth. The leaf stalk is 5 cm long. The leaf blade is divided into 5 broad lobes to about half their depth. The leaves are 15 cm long and wide. The leaves have a few hairs and many small black dots. They are wavy along the edge. The flowers occur singly. The flower stalks are 2 cm long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are long and red. They are 4 cm long by 1 cm wide.

Where it is found

In Swaziland it grows in the high veld only. It grows at about 1,800 m above sea level. It cannot tolerate frost. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. The roots are eaten occasionally.

The roots are a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Fwifwi, Gomo, Uthangazane lwehlathi, Uthangazane omncane, Xipapa

Synonyms

Cephalandra palmata (E. Mey.) ex Sond.; Coccinia mackenii E. Mey.; Momordica palmata E. Mey.;