Sessile-leafed cucumber
Coccinia sessilifolia

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family herb. It is a slender perennial climber. It has thick tuberous roots. It grows to 5 m long. The stems are branched and have grooves along them. The leaves are 5 lobed. They do no have a stalk. The edges of the leaves have teeth. The flowers are separately male and female. The male flowers occur in clusters while the female flowers occur singly. The fruit is oblong amd red amd 12 cm long. The seeds are oval and flattened.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs on dry soils. It can grow between 315-1,800 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

CAUTION: The tubers may be poisonous unless processed. The tubers are eaten raw or cooked. They can be boiled or roasted. The unripe fruit are eaten cooked, as a vegetable. Ripe fruit are eaten raw. The leaves are used as a green vegetable.

The roots are eaten in the Kalahari desert.

Edible parts

Leaves, tubers, root, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

The root tuber can weigh 25 kg.

Its other names

Local names

Bobbejaan ko kommer, Borobahlolo, Ekungu, Esita, Mogabala, Muyimbo, Wild karkoer

Synonyms

Coccinia schinzii Cogn.; Cephalandra sessifolia Sond.;