Citation: Schrader, Linnaea 12:414 (1838). Colocynth.

Synonymy: Cucumis colocynthis L., Sp. Pl. 1011 (1753).

Common name: None

Description:
Trailing or climbing herb with a perennial rootstock producing annual stems; stems to 3 m long, scabrid; tendrils simple or 2-branched; leaves with petioles 1-6 cm long, scabrid; lamina ovate in outline, 2-10 x 2-7 cm, cordate, palmately 3-5-lobed; lobes ovate, pinnately lobulate, obtuse to apiculate, scabrid on both surfaces.

Male flowers on peduncles 8-20 mm long; bract 1.5-2 mm long; calyx lobes lanceolate, 2-4 mm long; corolla lobes ovate, 6-8 mm long; female flowers on peduncles 10-45 mm long; ovary 7-9 mm long.

Fruit 5-12 cm diam., glabrous, green irregularly mottled or striped yellow to all yellow; seeds 5-9 mm long, smooth, dull, yellow-brown.

Published illustration: Telford & Marsden in Jessop (1981) Flora of central Australia, fig. 260D-F.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, LE, GT, FR, EA, EP, MU.   all mainland States.   native to northern Africa and south-western Asia. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: summer.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available