Lagenaria breviflora

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A climbing herb in the pumpkin family. It keeps growing from year to year. It produces stems each year. These are 6 m long. It can have hairs. The leaf blade is 8-20 cm long by 6-23 cm wide. It is broadly oval and heart shaped at the base. It is glossy green above and paler underneath. The leaves have 3-5 lobes. There are teeth along the edge. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are 8-10 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are smooth and glossy. They are dark green with white spots. The seeds are 9-12 mm long by 2 mm wide.

This is very similar to Lagenaria sphaerica.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forest and along rivers. It grows up to 1,200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Brazil, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Mamar-di-katur

Synonyms

Adenocarpus brevifloris Benth.;