Stinking kedrostis
Kedrostis foetidissima

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is a herb and a climber. The tendrils are usually unbranched. It has a strong unpleasant smell. It has a tuberous root. The leaf stalk is 1 cm long. The leaf blade is triangle shaped. It can have shallow lobes. There can be teeth along the edge. Both flower sexes are usually on the same plant. The flowers are a few and in small stalked clusters. Flowers are bell shaped and white. The fruit are fleshy and have a few seeds. The fruit are pear shaped and 3 cm long. They occur singly.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rocky and sandy soils. It needs well-drained soils. It needs shade. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of 1,100-1,900 mm. In Africa it grows between 50-1,350 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guianas, Kenya, India, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten fresh. They are also used in fish dishes, and relishes. The fruit and leaves are eaten.

It is an important food in the Kalahari. It is a famine food in India.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, vegetable, tubers, rhizomes

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Appakovay, Chunane, Erikoi, Kzaram Acetacet, Kukumadunda, Lodwar, Namusiisi, Nurakvel, Putribudinga, Shuntee, Shunto, Tjwala benyoni, Ziizi

Synonyms

Bryonia rostrata Roettl.; Kedrostris rostrata (Roettl.) Cogn.; Melothria foetidissima (Jacq.) G. Roberty; Rhynchocarpa foetida Clarke; Trichosanthes foetidissima Jacq.; and others