Cucumella engleri

(Gilg) C. Jeffrey

Cucurbitaceae Edible: Fruit, Caution Potential hazards — see below

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Meise Botanic Garden

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Carnegie Museum of Natural History

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Description

A pumpkin family herb that lies along the ground. It grows 1.2 m long. It is bristly. The leaf blade is 1-8 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. They are broadly oval. Young leaves have a covering underneath. It may or may not have lobes. There can be 3-5 lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. The central lobe is the largest and the lobes are triangle shaped. The male flowers are in groups of 2-12 flowers. The fruit are 1-4 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. They are narrow and have ribs along them. They are orange-red. The seeds are 4-7 mm long by 2-4 mm wide and 1 mm thick.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten.

Traditional Uses

Caution: Some consider the fruit poisonous.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Some consider the fruit poisonous.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia,

Synonyms

Kedrostis engleri Gilg

References (6)

Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 79
Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 44
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 131
Kew Bull. 15:350. 1962

Show all 6 references

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 15th April 2011]