Coccinea palmata
Common name: Wild cucumber, Afrikaans name: Bospampoentjie, Zulu names: uthangazane omncane, uthangazane lwehlathi.

This creeper, found in midlands forests, is fruiting at the moment. The cucumber-like fruit is an attractive bright orange-red fading to green at the stem end. It has creamy yellow flowers in summer – the male flower is borne on a long stem, while the female has a short stem.  The climbing stems are corky.  The soft leaves are slightly hairy, deeply lobed and can be cooked and eaten as spinach. In Malawi during times of famine, the potato-like bulb is also eaten. Dried fruit infusions are used in traditional medicine as purgatives. About 30 species occur in Africa with seven found in South Africa. They are part of the cucumber family.

Creepers add a new dimension to your wildlife garden, providing habitats and food for birds and insects. 

Click on any of the links below to see another Dargle wildflower