gooseberry cucumber
Cucumis myriocarpus Naudin
Cucumis myriocarpus, known as gooseberry cucumber, is an annual herb in the Cucurbitaceae family. It is native to tropical and southern Africa and has a wide distribution across regions including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the United States, and several African countries. It features small, round, yellow-green or green-striped fruit with soft spines, small yellow flowers, and deeply lobed, light green leaves. It grows in disturbed soil and cleared or bare areas, often thriving on summer moisture.
Description
Cucumis myriocarpus is a prostrate or climbing annual herb that is native to tropical and southern Africa. It is commonly found in disturbed soil and cleared or bare areas, where it benefits from summer moisture. The plant produces small, round fruits with a yellow-green or green-striped appearance and soft spines. Its flowers are small and yellow, and the leaves are deeply lobed and light green in color. The species was first described in 1859 and has since been recorded in numerous regions across Europe, North America, and Africa.
Other common names
Gooseberry gourdgooseberry cucumbergooseberry melon
Distribution
Belgium · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · Spain · SE · AU · conterminous 48 United States · Botswana · California · Cape Provinces · Free State · KwaZulu-Natal · Lesotho · Mozambique · New South Wales · North Caucasus · Northern Provinces · Northern Territory · Queensland · South Australia · Swaziland · Tasmania · Victoria · Western Australia · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Synonyms
Cucumis dissectifoliusCucumis grossularoidesCucumis merxmuelleriCucumis africanus var. acutilobusCucumis africanus var. myriocarpusCucumis dissectifolius var. filiformisCucumis myriocarpus subsp. myriocarpus
