Corallocarpus bainesii

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family herb. It is a creeper. Older stems have brown bark. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf stalk is 2-5 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and deeply divided into 5 lobes like fingers on a hand. The leaves are heart shaped at the base. The flowers are in a congested cluster. The male flowers have stalks and female flowers do not. The fruit is small and 8-9 mm long by 6 mm wide. They are in clusters and bright red. They contain about 6 seeds.

There are about 10 Corallocarpus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in hot arid areas. It grows in areas with a marked dry season. It is rare in Swaziland. It grows in woodland and bushland between 350-1,150 m altitude. It grows in sandy areas. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Comoros, East Africa, Eswatini, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is eaten raw. The tuberous root is eaten raw. It is also baked. The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked.

A minor vegetable of local importance only.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, fruit, root, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Moraanoga

Synonyms

Corallocarpus bussei Gilg.; Corallocarpus sphaerocarpus Cogn.; Kedrostis bainesii (Hook. f.) Cogn.; Rhynchocarpa bainesii Hook. f.;