Lagenaria sphaerica
Species of African gourd
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lagenaria sphaerica is a herbaceous climber in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as the wild melon.[2]
| Wild melon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fruit of Lagenaria sphaerica | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Lagenaria |
| Species: | L. sphaerica |
| Binomial name | |
| Lagenaria sphaerica (Sond.) Naudin | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
These plants are found in low-lying areas from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to East Africa. The may grow along river floodplains or up into the canopy of riparian forests. They may also be found in coastal dune vegetation.
These plants produce large white flowers which attract many insects. The melon gourd is green and flecked with white.
In Tanzania, only the male flowers produce nectar, which is fed on by the Eastern Olive Sunbird, but the actual pollinators are carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa; female individuals mimic the males but are nectarless.[3]
Where the plant is native, the leaves and immature fruit are used as vegetables; the mature fruit is both unpalatable and poisonous. Various parts of the plant, including the roots, are used medicinally. Apart from consumption, the fruit are also used a soap substitute, for rodenticide and insecticide, and by children as balls. The vine is also used as an ornamental plant.[4]
Flowers
Climbing in Acacia sp.
