Striped wild cucumber
Cucumis myriocarpus

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is an annual plant in the pumpkin family. It grows 20 cm high and spreads 5 m wide. The stem lies along the ground and has tendrils. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 6 cm long. There are 5 leaflets with teeth along the edges The flowers are white with dark green stripes. The flowers occur in clusters or 2 to 4. The fruit are pale green oval melons that turn yellow when ripe. They are 2-3 cm across. There are many fruit hidden under the leaves.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It will grow in most soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Europe, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tasmania, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. The green fruit are less bitter than ripe fruit. Caution: It often needs extensive preparation to remove poisons. The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable after cooking and also used in relishes and chutneys.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, caution, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Gooseberry cucumber, Isendelenja, Mokapana, Monyaku, Thlare sa mpja, Tshinyagu, Wildekomkommer

Synonyms

Cucumis leptodermis Schweick.; Cucumis dissectifolius Naudin; Cucumis grossularia Hort,; Cucumis merxmuelleri Suess.; Cucumis africanus L. f. var. acutilobus Cogn.;