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Momordica spinosa

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The leaves from Exoticke-rostliny.cz.
 


A seedling from The leaves from Exoticke-rostliny.cz.


A photo by Jürg Vogel, Gardenbreizh.org

Author: 

Emilio Chiovenda, 1916

Family: 

CUCURBITACEAE

Origin: 

E Ethiopia, N Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania

Soil: 

Mix

Water: 

Medium - Maximum

Sun: 

Medium

Thickness: 

5 Centimetres?

Height: 

80 Centimetres

Flower: 

Yellow / Green

Propagate: 

Seeds

Names: 

-

Synonyms: 

Kedrostis spinosa, Gilg.
Kedrostis brevispinosa, Cong.? =
Momordica brevispinosa, Chiovenda.

This dioecious member of the Cucurbitaceae family was given this name by Emilio Chiovenda in 1916. It is found in eastern Ethiopia, northern Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania, growing in a well drained soil with quite some water and some sun. The caudex might grow to five centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 80 centimetres in height. The flowers are yellow with green lines, the fruits orange-red when ripe.

The name comes from Mordio: 'to bite' after the bitten appearance of the seeds. The species name refers to the shape of the fruits.


The rather special fruit from Rarepalmseeds.com.