Sicyos polyacanthus

Cogn.

Bur cucumber

Cucurbitaceae Edible: Fruit, Caution Potential hazards — see below

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Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department

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Rapid Reference Collection (RRC) | Field Museum of Natural History - Keller Science Action Center

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Description

A climbing herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It grows each year from seeds. It is a climber. It can be 4-10 m long. The male and female flowers are separate on the same plant. The fruit are 1 cm long with one large seed.

Edible Uses

A starch is extracted from the plant. The fruit can be eaten but requires special processing.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is a strong purgative. The sap of the plant irritates the skin. They should not be eaten without special processing. A starch is extracted from the plant.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit has traditionally been used as a strong purgative.

Known Hazards

The fruit should not be eaten without special processing. The plant sap irritates the skin.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and wooded grassland. It grows between 950-1,550 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Central Africa, Central America, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Panama, Paraguay, South America*, Tanzania, Uruguay,

Also Known As

Po-de-mico, Porongo bravo, Tupe, Tupulo, Tupulo del monte

References (4)

Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
Edwards. S., et al, (Eds), 1995, Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Vol.2, Part 2 Canellaceae to Euphorbiaceae. Uppsala, Sweden. p 59
Malezas Comestibles del Cono Sur, INTA, 2009, Buernos Aires
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 16th April 2011]