Zehneria anomala
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A woody climber. Plants can be of separate sexes or contain both sexes. The stems are slender. The leaves are fleshy and oval. They are 1-2.5 cm long by 1.5-5.5 cm wide. The base is shallowly heart shaped. The leaves have 3-5 lobes. The flowers are creamy yellow and small. The male flowers are in groups or 2-7. Female flowers occur singly. The fruit are almost round. They are pale green with dark green stripes. They turn red when ripe. They are sweet and edible.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It occurs between 160-1,400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Middle East, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Imelapale