Acanthosicyos naudinianus
Acanthosicyos naudinianus, known as the Gemsbok cucumber, is a perennial African melon with edible fruits and seeds.[1] The plant is green, and the flowers are yellow. The fruit is edible, but eating it before it is ripe will cause a burning sensation in one's mouth. It is not poisonous, but it can be combined with the blood of the larva of the Diamphidia beetle to produce a poison which can be used to make poison arrows.[2]
Acanthosicyos naudinianus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Cucurbitales |
Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
Genus: | Acanthosicyos |
Species: | A. naudinianus |
Binomial name | |
Acanthosicyos naudinianus (Sond.) C.Jeffrey | |
References
- Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- tourbrief--the gemsbok cucumber
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