Early melon, Native gooseberry, People's melon
Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A pumpkin family plant. It is a twining annual herb. The stems are angular and coarsely hairy. They are brittle. The leaves can be almost round or kidney shaped. They can be 3-6 lobed and with teeth. The leaves are 0.3-0.8 cm long by 0.2-0.4 cm wide. The texture is somewhat rough. The flowers are yellow. The male flowers are in clusters and the female flowers occur singly. The fruit are green and oval. They are 2-5 cm long.
There are about 25 Cucumis species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They grow in Nepal up to 800 m altitude. They grow in sandy places. In Australia they grow along stream banks and flood plains in inland areas. Plants are very frost tender. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Central Africa, Chad, China, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guam, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Korea, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Middle East, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sahel, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The skin can be bitter. The immature fruit are cooked as a vegetable.
In India they are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves, seeds
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Seeds grow easily under warm, moist conditions.
Its other names
Local names
Dimbu beli, Fagus an nas, Kachri, Meki, Ulcardo melon, Ulkukta, Urmi, Wild melon
Synonyms
Bryonia callosa (Collosa) Roettler; Cucumis callosus (Rottler) Cogn.; Cucumis jucundus F. Muell.; Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis Naudin; Cucumis trigonus auct. non Roxb.; Cucumis picrocarpus F. Muell.; Cucumis pubescens Mitchell; Cucumis acidus Jacq.;