Hedgehog Gourd Cucumis dipsaceus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cucumis africanus
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOO-koo-mis dip-SAK-ee-us
- Description
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Arabian Cucumber is an annual warm-season vegetable, climbing vine, with yellow flowers and yellow fruit native to tropical Africa. It has been introduced and grown in Texas and Hawaii, but is not generally grown in other states. It scribbles over the ground or uses tendrils to climb trellises or over other plants.
As the fruits of the plant mature, they change from green to yellow and contain many seeds.The plant is normally found in the wild, but has been domesticated. In addition to the fruit harvested for consumption, the young shoots and leaves of the plant are traditionally cooked with groundnut paste and coconut milk. The plant grows best in full sun, in well-drained soil, and prefers a dry site.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Can be weedy and has become problematic in some tropical areas of the world including Mexico and South America.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common cucumis diseases as well as a factsheet on common insect pests and other problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cucumis
- Species:
- dipsaceus
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Fruits are used for fodder, medicinally as an analgesic, and human consumption.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Africa
- Distribution:
- tropical Africa, Texas, Hawaii, Northern Mexico, North Western South America.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- Fruits, seeds and young leaves and shoots are all edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Vine
- Warm Season Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Hairs cover the oblong fruit giving the species the nickname “hedgehog cucumber”. Fruits appear in November to January. They start out green and turn yellow when mature and contain many seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are monoecious and unisexual with each plant having separate male and female flowers. The male flowers range from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and have three stamens. Female flowers range from 3/4 to 1 inch and have three-lobed stigmas. Blooms September to November.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The heart-shaped leaves are trilobed and notched at the base. The leaves grow 3/4- 3 inches long and 1-3.5 inches wide with hairs covering both sides of the leaf surfaces. The margins are toothed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems grow to 6 feet or more with a climbing habit. Quadrangular shaped with hairs and weak.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Problems:
- Weedy
