Cucumis metuliferus

2025-11-03T16:24:24Z

2405:201:A43F:4072:3D4C:97C:DF5B:E104:

{{Short description|Vine in the cucumber and melon family}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Horned melon
|image = Cucumis metuliferus fruit - whole and cross section.jpg
|image_caption = ''Cucumis metuliferus'' fruits
|image2 =
|image2_alt =
|status =
|status_system =
|genus = Cucumis
|species = metuliferus
|authority = [[E. Meyerson|E. Mey]]
}}
{{nutritionalvalue
| name = Horned Melon, raw
| kJ = 183
| water = 88.97 g
| protein = 1.78 g
| fat = 1.26 g
| ash = 0.44 g
| carbs = 7.56 g|
| calcium_mg = 13
| iron_mg = 1.13
| magnesium_mg = 40
| phosphorus_mg = 37
| potassium_mg = 123
| sodium_mg = 2
| zinc_mg = 0.48
| copper_mg = 0.020
| manganese_mg = 0.039
| vitC_mg = 5.3
| thiamin_mg = 0.025
| riboflavin_mg = 0.015
| niacin_mg = 0.565
| pantothenic_mg = 0.183
| vitB6_mg = 0.063
| folate_ug = 3
| vitA_ug = 7
| betacarotene_ug = 88|
| note = [https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012414/https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list?qlookup=09451&format=Full Link to USDA Database entry]
| source_usda = 1
}}

'''''Cucumis metuliferus''''', also known as the '''African horned cucumber''' (shortened to '''horned cucumber'''), '''horned melon''', '''spiked melon''', '''jelly melon''', or '''kiwano''', is an annual [[vine]] in the [[cucumber]] and melon family [[Cucurbitaceae]]. Its fruit has [[horn (anatomy)|horn]]-like [[spine (botany)|spines]], hence the name "horned melon". The ripe fruit has orange skin and lime-green, jelly-like soft flesh. ''C. metuliferus'' is native to [[Southern Africa]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Welman |first1=Mienkie |title=Cucumis metuliferus |url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cucumismet.htm |website=PlantZAfrica.com |publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute |access-date=7 June 2015 |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510134015/http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cucumismet.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="seattletimes" /> in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola.

== Consumption and other uses ==
Kiwano is a traditional food plant in Africa. Along with the gemsbok cucumber (''[[Acanthosicyos naudinianus]]'') and ''tsamma'' ([[citron melon]]), it is one of the few sources of water during the dry season in the [[Kalahari Desert]].<ref name="setvkhalagadi">{{in lang|fr}} ''Parc de Khal-agadi, pas si désert'', in [[Science & Vie]] n° 1130, November 2011, pp. 18–21.</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Ben-Erik Van Wyk |date=2000 |title=People's Plants: A guide to useful plants of southern Africa |url=http://www.briza.co.za/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=124 |location=South Africa |publisher=Briza Publications |page=38 |isbn=978-1-875093-19-9 |access-date=10 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626102929/http://www.briza.co.za/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=124 |archive-date=26 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In northern Zimbabwe, it is called ''gaka'' or ''gakachika'',<ref>{{Cite book |title=Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6fJyQDil1rYC&pg=PA235 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |date=30 January 2012 |isbn=9789400717633 |language=en |first=T. K. |last=Lim}}</ref> and is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration. It can be eaten at any stage of ripening.

''C. metuliferus'' may be used as a [[rootstock]] (via grafting) for melon to prevent both growth reduction and a strong [[nematode]] buildup in ''M. incognita''-infested soil.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sigüenza |first1=Concepcion |last2=Schochow |first2=Martin |last3=Turini |first3=Tom |last4=Ploeg |first4=Antoon |title=Use of Cucumis metuliferus as a Rootstock for Melon to Manage Meloidogyne incognita |journal=Journal of Nematology |date=2005 |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=276–280 |issn=0022-300X |pmc=2620981 |pmid=19262873}}</ref>

The fruit's taste has been compared to a combination of banana and [[passionfruit]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://enzedexotics.com/2019/03/25/what-does-kiwano-taste-like/ |title=What does kiwano taste like?}}</ref> cucumber and zucchini<ref name="seattletimes">{{cite web |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20060222/hornedmelon22/kiwano-its-whats-inside-that-counts |title=Living - Kiwano: It's what's inside that counts - Seattle Times Newspaper |work=nwsource.com}}</ref> or a combination of banana, cucumber and [[Lime (fruit)|lime]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695254222,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226181024/http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695254222,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2008 |title=The Dinner Diva: Let's discover some more little-known fruits |date=21 February 2008 |work=DeseretNews.com}}</ref> A small amount of salt or sugar can increase the flavor, but the seed content can make eating the fruit less convenient than many common fruits.

Some also eat the peel, which is very rich in [[vitamin C|vitamin'' ''C]] and [[dietary fiber]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mountain Herb Estate - VEGETABLE - CUCUMBER, AFRICAN HORNED, Jelly Melon, Kiwano, Rooi-agurkie, Rooikomkommer (Afr.), Mokapana (Tswana) (Cucumis metuliferus) |url=http://www.herbgarden.co.za/mountainherb/herbinfo.php?id=366 |website=www.herbgarden.co.za |access-date=7 June 2015}}</ref>

==Germination==
[[Germination]] is optimal between {{cvt|20-35|C}}; is delayed at {{cvt|12|C}} and [[Stratification_(seeds)|seed stratification]] is totally inhibited; and is greatly inhibited above {{cvt|35|C}}. [[Salinity]] increases the time required for full germination. The [[sowing]] dates greatly influence fruit yield and [[flowering]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Benzioni |first1=A. |last2=Mendlinger |first2=S. |last3=Ventura |first3=M. |last4=Huyskens |first4=S. |date=Aug 1991 |title=Effect of Sowing Dates, Temperatures on Germination, Flowering, and Yield of ''Cucumis metuliferus'' |url=https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/26/8/article-p1051.xml |journal=[[HortScience]] |volume=26 |issue=8 |pages=1051–1053 |doi=10.21273/HORTSCI.26.8.1051 |issn=0018-5345 |publisher=[[American Society for Horticultural Science]] |access-date=29 May 2025}}</ref>

==Pests and diseases==
Kiwano is resistant to several [[root-knot nematodes]]; two [[Accession_number_(bioinformatics)|accessions]] were found to be highly resistant to [[watermelon mosaic virus]], but very sensitive to the [[squash mosaic virus]]. Some accessions were found to succumb to [[Fusarium wilt|''Fusarium'' wilt]]. Resistance to [[greenhouse whitefly]] was reported. Kiwano was reported to be resistant to [[powdery mildew]], but in Israel, powdery mildew and squash mosaic virus attacked kiwano fields and control measures had to be taken.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Benzioni |first1=Aliza |title=Kiwano - New Crop FactSHEET |url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropfactsheets/kiwano.html |website=Center for New Crops & Plant Products |publisher=[[Purdue University]] |access-date=3 June 2015 |date=1997 |location=West Lafayette, IN}}</ref>

== Fruit development ==
During 28 days of development on the plant, fresh weight, [[Electrical resistivity and conductivity|electrical conductivity]] and [[Titratable_acid|titratable acidity]] of fruits do not change, [[pH]] rises and then falls, and concentrations of [[Reducing sugar|reducing sugars]] and [[total soluble solids]] increase. In the same period, [[Peel_(fruit)|peel]] colour changes from green through whitish green to yellow and finally to orange, and the [[pigment]] profile shows a decline in pigments absorbing at 431 and 663'' ''nm, and a rapid increase in those absorbing at 442 and 470'' ''nm.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mendlinger |first1=S. |last2=Benzioni |first2=A. |last3=Huyskens |first3=S. |last4=Ventura |first4=M. |title=Fruit development and postharvest physiology of ''Cucumis metuliferus'' Mey., a new crop plant |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00221589.1992.11516274 |journal=Journal of Horticultural Science |date=1992 |volume=67 |issue=4 |pages=489–493 |doi=10.1080/00221589.1992.11516274 |issn=0022-1589 |access-date=26 August 2024 |url-access=subscription |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Zeleno.jpg
File:Owoce Kiwano.jpg
File:Kiwano.JPG
File:Kiwanov.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{WestAfricanPlants|Cucumis metuliferus}}

{{Melons}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q41318}}

[[Category:Cucumis|metuliferus]]
[[Category:Desert fruits]]
[[Category:Fruits originating in Africa]]
[[Category:Melons]]

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Cucumis metuliferus