HORNED MELON CUCUMIS METULIFERUS CUCURBITACEAE DANIELLE MCDERMOTT BIOL 310 DR. SHIPUNOV NAME AND CLASSIFICATION • Also known as Kiwano, African horned cucumber, melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, melano • Part of the cucumber and melon family, Cucurbitaceae GEOGRAPHY OF CULTIVATION AND ORIGIN • Native to Southern and Central parts of Africa • Now grown in the United States, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Chile, Australia and New Zealand • Grows in fields and scrublands • In Zimbabwe it is called Gaka and is primarily used as a snack or salad • Also used in the Kalahari Desert as a source of water FRUIT DESCRIPTION • Horn-like spines • Ripe fruit has orange skin and lime green, jelly like flesh with a fruity taste. • Texture is like passionfruit or a pomegranate • Taste has been compared to a combination of banana and passionfruit or a combination of banana, cucumber and lime • Adding salt or sugar can increase the flavor • Eating the peel also has dietary benefits PLANT DESCRIPTION • Develops long fine stems that can reach 5 to 10 feet in length • Soft heart shaped leaves covered with hairs • Flowers are yellow colored to attract bees and bumblebees for pollination • Also available in the smooth form (without spikes) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc3xsWtiwUY STAGES OF GROWTH FEATURES OF CULTIVATION • Temperature between 68 to 95 degrees F • Best in full sunlight and well drained slightly acidic soils • Produce up to 100 fruit per season • Very long shelf life • Can be eaten at any stage of ripening but when it becomes overripened, it will burst forcefully to release the seeds. • You can start the seeds indoors, then plant the young jelly melon plants in the garden when the seedlings have two true leaves and temperatures are consistently above 59 degrees F PLANT BENEFITS/NUTRITION • Full of antioxidants • Improves digestion • Reduces pre-mature aging • Alleviates stress • Maintains metabolic processes • Improves visibility • Strengthens your bones • Cognitive function (vitamin E) • Strengthens Hair follicles • Heart Health • Brain Therapy • Treats Iron Deficiency • Manage Diabetes (PubMed) • Recovery of Heat Stroke • Strengthens Muscles • Helps with cancer treatment (PubMed) • Decreases the Risk of Obesity PLANT/FRUIT USES • Kiwano can be used for the preparation of ice-creams, syrups and sorbets • Hollowed shell can be used as ornamental miniature bowls (spikes provide stability) • Used for decorative purposes in fruit arrangements QUESTIONS? • REFERENCES: • HTTPS://WWW.SUPERFOODLY.COM/KIWANO-FRUIT-HORNED-MELON/ • HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/CUCUMIS_METULIFERUS • HTTPS://WWW.NATURALFOODSERIES.COM/18-BENEFITS-KIWANO-HORNED-ME LON/ • HTTPS://WWW.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PUBMED/?TERM=KIWANO+MELON.