Cucumis prophetarum L.

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

Morphology General Habit

Trailing perennial herb to 2.5 m; stems hispid or scabrid with spreading or appressed hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade ovate to almost circular in outline, obtuse to attenuate, sinuate-dentate, hispid or scabrid, 1–9.5 x 1–8 cm, moderately to deeply palmately 3–5-lobed, the lobes varied, usually narrowed towards the base, sometimes narrow and deeply lobulate; petiole 0.5–8.5 cm long, hispid or scabrid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Monoecious

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels slender, 3–25 mm long Pedicel 2–6 cm long, rather slender

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium 2.5–5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals filiform, 1–3(–4) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals c. 5–6 mm long, obtuse, glabrous inside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers solitary Male flowers solitary or in small fascicles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary ellipsoid, 4.5–8 mm long, densely softly spiny

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth as in male flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits subglobose to ellipsoid, 2.5–4(–6) x 1.5–3 cm, pale green with obscure to distinct darker green stripes, yellow when ripe, glabrous or sometimes finely pubescent, shortly spiny, the spines rather slender, 0.5–6(–12) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds elliptic in outline, 3–5 mm long.

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

Morphology General Habit

Climber or trailer to 2 m.; stems hispid or scabrid with spreading or ± adpressed sometimes cinereous hairs; basal stems tough, light-barked, somewhat thickened, arising from a perennial rootstock.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade broadly ovate to suborbicular in outline, ± cordate or subtruncate at the base, sinuate-toothed, 10–94 mm. long, 10–82 mm. broad, unlobed or more usually palmately, often deeply, 3–5-lobed; shape of lobes various; petiole 6–87 mm. long, hairy like the stem.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers 1–6 on 3–25 mm. long pedicels; receptacle-tube green, 2.5–5 mm. long; lobes subulate, 1–2.5 mm. long; petals yellow, 5–7 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. broad, united below. Female flowers on 6–30 mm. long stalks; ovary ellipsoid, 4.5–15 mm. long, 2.5–5 mm. across, ± distinctly softly papillate, each papilla ending in a forward-pointing hyaline bristle; receptacle-tube 2.5–4 mm. long; lobes subulate, 1–3 mm. long; petals 5–8 mm. long, 2.5–3.5 mm. broad, united below.

sex Male

Male flowers 1–6 on 3–25 mm. long pedicels; receptacle-tube green, 2.5–5 mm. long; lobes subulate, 1–2.5 mm. long; petals yellow, 5–7 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. broad, united below.

sex Female

Female flowers on 6–30 mm. long stalks; ovary ellipsoid, 4.5–15 mm. long, 2.5–5 mm. across, ± distinctly softly papillate, each papilla ending in a forward-pointing hyaline bristle; receptacle-tube 2.5–4 mm. long; lobes subulate, 1–3 mm. long; petals 5–8 mm. long, 2.5–3.5 mm. broad, united below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit on an 8–40 mm. long stalk, subglobose to ellipsoid, 16–63 mm. long, 15–33 mm. across, quite closely beset with 0.5–12 mm. long soft rather slender terete bristle-tipped aculei, otherwise usually glabrous, pale green with very obscure to markedly distinct darker longitudinal stripes, practically uniform yellow when ripe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds elliptic in outline, smooth, compressed, ± 5 × 2 × 1 mm.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident