Kalahari cucumber
Cucumis kalahariensis
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a creeper that keeps growing from year to year. The stems can be 3 m long. It has a fleshy taproot. These are 5-20 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. It has a brown skin and spongy inner flesh. Leaves have lobes and teeth around the edge. The leaves are hairy. Plants are separately male and female. The flowers are small and bright yellow. The fruit are small and prickly. They have stripes along them. They are 3-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The seeds are 6-7 mm long by 304 mm wide and 2 mm thick.
There are about 25 Cucumis species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is used by the San people in Southern Africa. It needs well-drained soil. It grows in sands and clays. It grows below 1,200 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The roots are baked and eaten. The raw root is used for water. The leaves are cooked and eaten.
It is an important food plant in the central Kalahari.
Edible parts
Root, tuber, leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Muputwi