Common Name:

General Information

Acanthosicyos naudinianus is a perennial herbaceous plant producing annual stems up to 6 metres long from a tuberous rootstock that can be 1 metre long[]. The stems scramble over the ground, often rooting at the nodes, and also climb into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of tendrils[].
The plant is an important local food in the arid areas in which it grows. In view of increasing demands for edible oil and protein in arid lands, it is a candidate for development as a high-yielding, dry country crop. It yields a crop quickly, harvesting the fruits is easy, it has a wide ecological adaptation, it is easily propagated and handled, and fruits store well. As such, it compares favourably with Acanthosicyos horridus as a candidate for domestication[].

Known Hazards

The tuberous roots are considered inedible or even poisonous and in Zambia they have been reportedly used for homicidal purposes[].
The unripe fruits cause a burning sensation of the tongue and lips when eaten raw[, ].

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, S. Africa.

Habitat

Woodland, wooded grassland and grassland; growing in sandy soils at elevations from 900 - 1,350 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the arid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,350 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 30°c, but can tolerate 12 - 32°c[]. It is intolerant of frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 150 - 500mm, but tolerates 100 - 700mm[].
Requires a sunny position in a deep, sandy, well-drained soil[, ]. Tolerates saline subsoils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.5 - 7[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. It can be boiled, roasted or made into pickles[]. A sweet-sour taste[]. The watery, soft, jelly-like pulp is eaten raw as a refreshing snack and an important thirst quencher[]. The unripe fruits cause a burning sensation of the tongue and lips when eaten raw[]. The ellipsoid or subglobose fruit is 6 - 12cm long and 4 - 8cm wide[]. It is rather glaucous green, becoming pale yellow when mature[].
The fresh fruit is used as a source of liquid for travellers in the desert[, ].
The fruit can be used as a rennet for curdling milk[].

Seed - cooked. It contains around 35% protein and can be roasted then ground into a flour or used in confectionery[]. The fruit skin and the seeds are roasted and pounded to make a meal[]. The seeds are 7·5 - 10mm long by 4 - 6mm wide and 2·5 - 3mm thick[]..

Medicinal

The sap of the tuber is regarded as a remedy to arrow poison[]. The tuber is pounded and soaked in cold water - the soak water is drunk to induce vomiting and thuse get rid of the poison[].

Other Uses

The long, firm stems are used by children as skipping ropes[].

Propagation

Seed -

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