SECHIUM EDULE

This member of the Cucurbitaceae family was given this name by Olof Peter Swartz in 1800. It is found in Belize and Mexico, growing in a rich and drained soil with lots of water and some to full sun. The tuberous roots can grow to six centimetres in diameter, the vines grow to twelve metres or more. The flowers are crème to pale yellow. The lemon size fruit only contain one seed, and it should be sown with the entire fruit! It might actually start growing within the fresh fruit.

The genera name means pen, perhaps for the fact that it was fed to hogs. This species name indicates it can be eaten - which it is.