Biology:Acanthosicyos naudinianus
| Acanthosicyos naudinianus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Acanthosicyos |
| Species: | A. naudinianus
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| Binomial name | |
| Acanthosicyos naudinianus (Sond.) C.Jeffrey
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Acanthosicyos naudinianus, known as the Gemsbok cucumber, is a perennial African melon with edible fruits and seeds.[3]
Description
The leaves are typically deeply palmately 5-lobed and alternately arranged, while the stem may reach 6 meters long.[4] The stems feature tendrils which have been modified into weak spines.[5] The flowers are yellow or white. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[2] The fruit, which is 4-12 centimetres long and covered in spines, starts out green and becomes a pale yellow when ripe.[6] 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 larvae of Diamphidia beetle species to produce a poison which can be used to make poison arrows.[7] The tuberous roots, which may reach 1 metre long,[8] are poisonous.[9]
Distribution and habitat
A. naudinianus is found in southern Africa, specifically Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa . Its native habitat is woodland, wooded grasslands, and grasslands. It prefers sandy soil and does not tolerate frost.[9] It may be grown in USDA zone 9.[10]
References
- ↑ Rebelo, A.G.; Mtshali, H.; von Staden, L. (December 2010). "Wild Watermelon". South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1942-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "PROTA4U". https://www.prota4u.org/database/protav8.asp?g=pe&p=Acanthosicyos+naudinianus+(Sond.)+Jeffr..
- ↑ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
- ↑ "Acanthosicyos naudinianus (Sond.) Jeffr.". https://www.prota4u.org/database/protav8.asp?g=pe&p=Acanthosicyos+naudinianus+(Sond.)+Jeffr..
- ↑ "Flora of Zambia: Species information: Acanthosicyos naudinianus". https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=157150.
- ↑ "Acanthosicyos naudinianus in Global Plants on JSTOR". https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/Acanthosicyos.naudinianus.
- ↑ tourbrief--the gemsbok cucumber
- ↑ "CJB - African plant database - Detail". http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=26229.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Acanthosicyos naudinianus - Useful Tropical Plants". http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Acanthosicyos+naudinianus.
- ↑ "Acanthosicyos Naudinianus - Indigenous South African Creeper / Ground Cover - 10 Seeds" (in en). https://www.seedsforafrica.co.za/products/acanthosicyos-naudinianus.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q4672043 entry
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