Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Rooikomkommer, African horned melon, Mokapana

Family: Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber)

Distribution: South Africa to tropical Africa

Habitat: Various

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Vine / liana / climber

Comments: This is a useful edible and medicinal plant that occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is a climber with spiny fruit which are produced late summer to winter. There are apparently two forms of the fruit, a bitter and a non-bitter form. The former is unpalatable and likely poisonous while the latter is palatable – albeit bland – and edible, but there is no way to tell between them apart from tasting. In traditional medicine the root is used to relieve pain after childbirth and to treat venereal diseases.