Kiwano
Kiwano (Cucumis metuliferus), also known as horned melon, is a sweet tropical fruit. It is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family, Cucurbitaceae. It is also called "horned melon" since its fruit has horn-like spines. When ripe, the fruit has orange skin and lime green, jelly-like flesh. Kiwano is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is now grown in the United States, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand.
| Horned melon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cucumis metuliferus fruit | |
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Cucumis |
| Species: | C. metuliferus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cucumis metuliferus | |
Kiwano is a traditional food plant in Africa. Along with the Gemsbok cucumber (Acanthosicyos naudinianus) and Tsamma (Citron melon), it is one of the few sources of water during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert. In northern Zimbabwe, it is called gaka or gakachika. There it is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration.
