Cucumis engleri (Gilg) Ghebret. & Thulin

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Stems prostrate or scandent, up to 1·2 m. long, shortly hispid.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 1·2–8 × 1·7–7 cm., broadly ovate or subpentagonal in outline, cordate, when young ± cinereous-tomentose beneath, later hispid or asperulous, especially on veins, shortly hispid above, ± sinuate-denticulate at the margins, unlobed or shortly to moderately palmately 3–5-lobed, lobes ovate-triangular or triangular, obtuse to acute, apiculate, the central largest.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petioles 1–6·7 cm. long, hispid or scabrid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Probably monoecious. Female flowers on 5–30 mm. long pedicels; ovary 12–16 × 1·5–2·5 mm., ovoid-cylindrical or fusiform, densely hirsute; receptacle-lobes 2·5–5 mm. long, perianth otherwise as in male flowers. male flowers in sessile or sometimes shortly pedunculate 2–12-flowered fascicles, rarely solitary; peduncle up to 5 mm. long; pedicels 5–18 mm. long. Receptacle-tube 2·5–5 mm. long, densely hispid; lobes 1–2 mm. long, filiform. Petals 3–8 mm. long, yellow.

sex Male

male flowers in sessile or sometimes shortly pedunculate 2–12-flowered fascicles, rarely solitary; peduncle up to 5 mm. long; pedicels 5–18 mm. long. Receptacle-tube 2·5–5 mm. long, densely hispid; lobes 1–2 mm. long, filiform. Petals 3–8 mm. long, yellow.

sex Female

Female flowers on 5–30 mm. long pedicels; ovary 12–16 × 1·5–2·5 mm., ovoid-cylindrical or fusiform, densely hirsute; receptacle-lobes 2·5–5 mm. long, perianth otherwise as in male flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 1–4 × 0·7–1·5 cm., ellipsoid-cylindrical or fusiform, sometimes ± rostrate, longitudinally ribbed, shortly hispid, orange-red; fruit-stalk 5–30 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3·5–7 × 2–4 × 0·5–1 mm., ovate in outline, lenticular, smooth, not or obscurely bordered.

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

Morphology General Habit

Trailing or climbing perennial herb to 1.2 m.; stems tough, spreading hispid-hairy, becoming thickened with smooth grey-brown fibrous bark at the base, arising from a ± woody rootstock.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade broadly ovate or subpentagonal in outline, cordate, ± sinuate-toothed, rather scabrid-hairy above, sparsely to densely often reticulately cinereous-pubescent beneath, 12–78 mm. long, 17–70 mm. broad, obscurely to distinctly palmately 5-lobed; lobes triangular or ovate-triangular, with the central largest; petiole hispid, 8–65 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Dioecious or monoecious. Male flowers 3–9, sessile or clustered on a peduncle up to 5 mm. long; pedicels 5–16 mm. long; receptacle-tube campanulate, 2.5–5 mm. long; lobes filiform, 1–2 mm. long; petals yellow, 3–8 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. broad, united at the base. Female flowers on 4–16 mm. long stalks; ovary fusiform, hairy, 12–16 mm. long, 1.5–2.5 mm. across, sometimes shorter; receptacle-tube campanulate, 3–5 mm. long; lobes filiform, spreading, 2.5–5 mm. long; petals 5–6 mm. long, 3–4.5 mm. broad, united at the base.

sex Male

Male flowers 3–9, sessile or clustered on a peduncle up to 5 mm. long; pedicels 5–16 mm. long; receptacle-tube campanulate, 2.5–5 mm. long; lobes filiform, 1–2 mm. long; petals yellow, 3–8 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. broad, united at the base.

sex Female

Female flowers on 4–16 mm. long stalks; ovary fusiform, hairy, 12–16 mm. long, 1.5–2.5 mm. across, sometimes shorter; receptacle-tube campanulate, 3–5 mm. long; lobes filiform, spreading, 2.5–5 mm. long; petals 5–6 mm. long, 3–4.5 mm. broad, united at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit on a 5–11 mm. long stalk, ellipsoid and beaked or fusiform, ± longitudinally ribbed, 11–34 mm. long, 7–15 mm. across, orange-red.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (fig. 18/9) elliptic in outline, compressed, lenticular, smooth, narrowly and obscurely bordered, 3.5–7 × 2–4 × 0.5–1 mm.

Habitat

Bushland, wooded grassland and grassland; 330–2700 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T1 T2 T7 U1 U3 U4 Sudan and eastern Congo Republics