African Horned Cucumber
Cucumis metuliferus
- Native to:
- Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Ivar Leidus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus:
- Cucumis
- Species:
- Cucumis metuliferus
- USDA Symbol:
- CUME3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid regions, prefers dry conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best at warm temperatures of 70-85°F (21-29°C). Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI