Acanthosicyos horridus

Acanthosicyos horridus
Acanthosicyos horridus (A) Citrullus lanatus (B)
by Ethel Dixie c.1925
Acanthosicyos horridus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Acanthosicyos
Species: A. horridus
Binomial name
Acanthosicyos horridus
Welw. ex Hook.f.

Acanthosicyos horridus is an unusual melon that occurs only in Namibia; it is locally called !nara.

The edible seeds are known locally as butterpips.[1]

The fruit serves as an essential food source for Topnaar people from February to April and August to September.[2] The katydid, Acanthoproctus diadematus feeds on the plant, moving between different bushes at night.[3]

References

  1. ^ Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.
  2. ^ "Nara Plant, Acanthosicyos horrida, Namibia". Siyabona Africa, Kruger Park Safaris. http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_nara_plant.html. Retrieved 06-23-2011. 
  3. ^ Conti, E.; F.M. Viglianisi (2005). "Ecology of the calling song of two Namibian armoured ground crickets, Acanthoplus longipes and Acanthoproctus diadematus (Orthoptera Tettigoniidae Hetrodinae)". Ethology Ecology & Evolution 17 (3): 261–269. doi:10.1080/08927014.2005.9522596. http://ejour-fup.unifi.it/index.php/eee/article/view/1045/991. 

External links


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