Cucumis metulifer E.Mey. ex Naudin

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Trailing or scandent annual herb to 5 m; stems densely setose

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade ovate to broadly ovate, deeply cordate, sinuate-deticulate, hispid-setulose becoming scabrid-punctate, 3.5–12 x 3.5–13.5 cm, palmately usually shortly (3–)5-lobed, lobes broadly triangular to ovate or elliptic; petiole 2–11.5 cm long, densely patent-setose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Monoecious

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium 3.5–6 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals filiform, 1.5–5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 6–13 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers solitary Male flowers solitary or in 2–10-flowered clusters

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary ellipsoid, 9.5–25 mm long, covered with large soft spines

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth as in male flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit oblong-cylindrical, rounded at the ends, 6.5–13 x 3.5–6.5 cm, covered with stout fleshy spines, mottled green, bright red when ripe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicel 2–7 cm long, little or not expanded towards the apex Pedicels 0.5–3.5 cm long Pedicels 3–16 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds narrowly ovate in outline, 5–9 mm long, fibrillose.

Distribution

S3 tropical Africa, Yemen, sometimes cultivated.

Ecology

Altitude c. 100 m.

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1967

Morphology General Habit

Annual climbing or trailing herb; stem hispid with spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade broadly ovate-cordate in outline, hispid-hairy especially on the nerves beneath, sinuate-toothed, 32–90 mm. long, 43–100 mm. broad, unlobed or usually palmately 3–5-lobed; lobes triangular or rounded, less often ovate, obtuse to rounded and apiculate; petioles long-spreading hispid-hairy, 37–100 mm. long.

sex Male

Male flowers 1–4 in sessile or up to 10 mm. pedunculate groups; pedicels 2–18 mm. long; receptacle-tube pale green, 3–6 mm. long; lobes filiform, 1.5–4 mm. long; petals yellow, 6–13 mm. long, 2–8 mm. broad, united in lower third.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers on 20–60 mm. long stalks; ovary pale green with numerous large darker green fleshy spines each tipped by a broad-based hair, 10–26 mm. long, 3.5–12 mm. across; receptacle-tube 3–5 mm. long; lobes filiform, 2–4 mm. long; petals 8–15 mm. long, 4–10 mm. broad, united below. Male flowers 1–4 in sessile or up to 10 mm. pedunculate groups; pedicels 2–18 mm. long; receptacle-tube pale green, 3–6 mm. long; lobes filiform, 1.5–4 mm. long; petals yellow, 6–13 mm. long, 2–8 mm. broad, united in lower third.

sex Female

Female flowers on 20–60 mm. long stalks; ovary pale green with numerous large darker green fleshy spines each tipped by a broad-based hair, 10–26 mm. long, 3.5–12 mm. across; receptacle-tube 3–5 mm. long; lobes filiform, 2–4 mm. long; petals 8–15 mm. long, 4–10 mm. broad, united below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit on a stout 20–60 mm. long stalk, which is not expanded upwards, ellipsoid-cylindrical, obscurely trigonous, 60–110 mm. long, 30–61 mm. across, spiny with rather stout broad-based scattered fleshy spines each tipped with a broad-based bristle, deep greenish grey becoming orange-red with obscure longitudinal stripes of small pale markings, rather softly fleshy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds elliptic in outline, 7–9 × 3.5–4 × 1–1.5 mm.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland and bushland, wooded grassland and grassland; 820–1800 m.

Distribution

north tropical Africa from Nigeria eastwards to the Sudan Republic and Ethiopia, also Congo Republic, south tropical Africa, Transvaal, Natal, South West Africasometimes cultivated elsewhere K2 T3 T4 T5 T7 T8 U1

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Annual; stems prostrate or scandent, to 5 m., strongly patent-setose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 3·5–12 × 3·5–13·5 cm., ovate to broadly ovate or subpentagonal in outline, cordate, hispid-setulose especially on veins beneath, becoming scabrid-punctate, margins sinuate-denticulate, palmately and usually rather shortly (3)5-lobed, lobes shallowly triangular to ovate or broadly elliptic, rounded to subacute, shortly acuminate, apiculate, very rarely lobulate; basal sinus deep, broad, subrectangular.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole 2–11·5 cm. long, strongly patent-setulose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers monoecious. Female flowers solitary, sometimes co-axillary with male; pedicel 5–35 mm. long; ovary 9·5–25 × 7·5–10 mm., ellipsoid, covered with large soft spines; perianth similar to that of male flower. male flowers solitary or 2–10 in usually sessile fascicles; pedicels 3–16 mm. long. Receptacle-tube 3·5–6 mm. long, lobes 1·5–mm. long. Petals 3–11 mm. long, yellow or pale orange.

sex Male

male flowers solitary or 2–10 in usually sessile fascicles; pedicels 3–16 mm. long. Receptacle-tube 3·5–6 mm. long, lobes 1·5–mm. long. Petals 3–11 mm. long, yellow or pale orange.

sex Female

Female flowers solitary, sometimes co-axillary with male; pedicel 5–35 mm. long; ovary 9·5–25 × 7·5–10 mm., ellipsoid, covered with large soft spines; perianth similar to that of male flower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 6·5–13 × 3·5–6·5 cm., oblong-cylindric, rounded at the ends, bluntly trigonous, ornamented with stout fleshy spines, dark green mottled paler grey-green or yellow, becoming bright red when ripe; fruit-stalk 2–7 cm. long, strongly spiculate, ridged, not or only slightly expanded at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5·1–7·4 × 3·0–3·7 × 1·0–1·1 mm., narrowly ovate in outline, compressed, with rounded margins and depressed or slightly convex faces, smooth, sericeous-fibrillose.