Zehneria scabra

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a climber. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are heart shaped and have sharp teeth along the edges. The fruit are round or oval and change from green to yellow or red.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Africa it grows between 600-2,250 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Philippines, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are boiled in water and eaten. Caution: Parts have been recorded as edible and also as poisonous.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Areg-ressa, Ikomangunku, Kukilamasola, Lamthabi, Nkweyamzue, Onwihura

Synonyms

Bryonia cordata Thunb.; Bryonia punctata Thunb.; Bryonia scabra L. f.; Cucurbita scabra (L.f.) Blume; Melothria cordata (Thunb.) Cogn.; Melothria longepedunculata (A. Rich.) Cogn.; Melothria punctata (L.) Cogn.; Pilogyne scabra (L.f.) W. J. de Wilde & Duyfjes; Zehneria longipedunculata A. Rich.; Zehneria oligosperma sensu C. Jeffery; and many others