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[[File:Map Cucumis metuliferus.gif|thumb|distribution in Africa (wild and planted)]][[File:Linedrawing Cucumis metuliferus.gif|thumb|1, part of stem with male and female flower; 2, fruit. Redrawn and adapted by Achmad Satiri Nurhaman]][[File:Cucumis metuliferus RRS.jpg|thumb|fruiting plant habit]][[File:Cucumis metuliferus 1.JPG|thumb|large, ripe fruit]][[File:Cucumis metuliferus 2.JPG|thumb|fruit in cross section]][[File:Cucumis metuliferus 3(31).JPG|thumb|plant and green fruits]]
<big>''[[Cucumis metuliferus]]'' E.Mey. ex Naudin</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Cucumis metuliferus'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., sér. 4, 11: 10 (1859).
:Chromosome number: 2''n'' = 24
== Vernacular names ==
*Horned melon, African cucumber, horned cucumber, kiwano (En). *Concombre cornu, métulon, kiwano (Fr). *Maxije (Po).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
== Description ==
*Vigorous annual herb with climbing or prostrate stems, having solitary, simple tendrils 4–10.5 cm long; root system strong, fibrous; stems reaching several m in length, grooved, with long stiff spreading hairs. *Leaves alternate, simple; stipules absent; petiole 3–12 cm long, setose; blade ovate or pentagonal in outline, 3.5–14 cm × 3.5–13.5 cm, shallowly palmately 3–5-lobed, hispid setulose especially on veins below, becoming scabrid-punctate. *Flowers unisexual, regular, 5-merous; sepals filiform, 2–4 mm long; petals united at base, 0.5–1.5 cm long, yellow; male flowers in 1–10-flowered fascicles, with pedicel 2–18 mm long, stamens 3; female flowers solitary, with pedicel 5–35 mm long, ovary inferior, ellipsoid, 1–2.5 cm long, covered with large soft spines, stigma 3-lobed. *Fruit an oblong-cylindrical berry 6–16 cm × 3–9 cm, on a stalk 2–7 cm long, rounded at both ends and beset with stout, broad-based, spiny protuberances 1–1.5 cm long, dark mottled green, ripening through yellow to bright orange, many-seeded. *Seeds narrowly ovoid, 5–8 mm long, compressed with rounded margins, sericeous hairy.
== Other botanical information ==
== Author(s) ==
* M.H. Wilkins-Ellert , 4246 W. Flying Diamond, Tucson, Arizona 85742, United States
== Correct citation of this article ==
Wilkins-Ellert, M.H., 2004. '''Cucumis metuliferus''' E.Mey. ex Naudin. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.
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[[Category:PROTA]]
[[Category:Vegetables (PROTA)]]
