Cucumis hirsutus

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. A pumpkin family plant that keeps growing from year to year. It has a tuberous root. The stems and stiff and angular. The leaves vary in shape. They can be 8-12 cm long. The male and female flowers occur separately. The male flowers are long and 2.5 cm across. They occur as 1-3 together. The female flowers occur singly. The fruit is oval and 3 cm across. It has a few hairs. The fruit are mottled green and white. The seeds are small.

There are about 25 Cucumis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows between 150-2,500 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It grows in open woodland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten cooked. The fruit are occasionally eaten raw.

A vegetable of only local importance.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dzicanhnga, Macacabua, Macucu, Mkunguyanjila, Mkuwikuwi, Voahondro

Synonyms

Cucumis homblei De Willd. ex Cogn.; Cucumis welwitschii Cogn.; Cucumis wildemanianus Cogn.; Cucumis gossweileri C. Norman; Cucumis sereti De Willd.; Cucumis seretioides Suess.; Cucumis sonderi Cogn.;