Momordica foetida

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a creeper. It has a stout root. It can re-grow from this root. The vine can climb 7 m high. The leaves have a bad smell when crushed. The male flowers are in groups and female flowers occur singly on long stalks. The flowers are pale yellow. The fruit are 8 cm long. They turn yellow or orange when ripe. They are covered with soft prickles. They burst open exposing the seeds. The pulp is red.

There are about 50 Momordica species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open clearings in forest in West Africa. It grows between 350-2,250 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten. They are bitter. They are often cooked with pumpkin leaves. They are also added to maize porridge. The pulp of the fruit is eaten. The aril or fleshy layer around the seeds is eaten.

It is only a minor vegetable. It is a famine food. The fruit are sucked by children.

Edible parts

Vegetable, leaves, fruit, root, stems, seeds (aril)

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Leaves are collected in the dry season. In Central African Republic it flowers and fruits in October.

Its other names

Local names

Badha, Bererit, Boo, Chikaka, Chisere, Dzicanhan-gadza, Gifappel, Gifappeltjie, Inshubaba, Inshungu, Karo, Karu, Ki're, Kisalasala, Kwoljok diet, Lushwe, Mandelekesha, Mkuganyanjila, Mnukia muuma, Mokiki, N'tchile, Ngoza, Njombo, Nngu, Oroondi, Suruphaa, Tungwi, Umucyuuro, Ushwe, Ye'kurra areg, Yekura-hareg

Synonyms

Momordica cordata Cogn.; Momordica foetida Schumach. var. villosa Cogn.; Momordica morkorra A. Rich.; Momordica schimperiana Naudin;