Corallocarpus triangularis

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It lies along the ground or can be a climber. It keeps growing from year to year. It can be 2 m long. The leaf blade is 2-5 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. The leaves are heart shaped at the base and with 3-5 lobes. The male flowers are in groups or 4-10. The female flowers are in groups or 1-6. They are pale yellow or white. The fruit are about 1 cm long. They are bright red. The seeds are about 4 mm long by 2-3 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in shrubland. It grows between 300-1,530 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves and stems are cooked and eaten like spinach. The roots are baked in the ashes and eaten. The ripe fruit are sweet and edible.

Edible parts

Stems, leaves, fruit, roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Corallocarpus sphaerocarpus var. scaberrinus Cogn.;