Cucumis metuliferus
Annual vine with spiny fruit, native to Southern Africa.
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Cucumis metuliferus, commonly known as the African horned cucumber, horned melon, spiked melon, jelly melon, or kiwano, is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family Cucurbitaceae. Native to Southern Africa, it is notable for its fruit with horn-like spines, orange skin, and lime-green soft flesh. It is a traditional food plant in Africa and one of the few sources of water during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert.
Scientific classification
- CladeTracheophytes
- CladeAngiosperms
- CladeEudicots
- CladeRosids
- OrderCucurbitales
- FamilyCucurbitaceae
- GenusCucumis
- SpeciesCucumis metuliferus
Named by Jacques
Close relatives
Other species of Cucumis with a Codexery entry.
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus
- Cucumis melo Cucumis melo
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Cucumis metuliferus (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where the cucumis metuliferus has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (651 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 244 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Species
- metuliferus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cucumis metuliferus is an annual vine in the family Cucurbitaceae. Its fruit, known as kiwano or horned melon, has horn-like spines and orange skin with lime-green flesh.
The plant is native to Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola. In northern Zimbabwe, it is called gaka or gakachika and is primarily used as a snack or salad, rarely for decoration. It can be eaten at any stage of ripening, and some also eat the peel, which is rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Reader's Guide
Cucumis metuliferus holds significance as a traditional food plant in Africa, particularly as a water source during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert, alongside the gemsbok cucumber and tsamma. Its fruit is consumed as a snack or salad, and its taste has been compared to combinations of banana and passionfruit, cucumber and zucchini, or banana, cucumber, and lime. The plant is also used agriculturally: it may be grafted as rootstock for melon to prevent growth reduction and nematode buildup in infested soil. Kiwano shows resistance to some pests and diseases, including certain root-knot nematodes and watermelon mosaic virus, though it is sensitive to squash mosaic virus and Fusarium wilt in some accessions.
Germination is optimal between 20–35°C, and salinity increases germination time. Fruit development over 28 days shows changes in pH, sugar content, and peel color from green to orange. Its legacy lies in its dual role as a drought-season food and a potential crop for nematode management.
Also in the Codexery
More in Edible Fruits & Vegetables
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Cucumis metuliferus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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