Colocynth, Egusi, Bitter Apple

Seeds germinate easily and quickly in a peat-based medium with warmth and moisture. Seedlings unfold their leaves like huge flags and are...Read More vigorous. If germinated in trays, the seedlings will quickly outgrow them. Seedlings are unfazed by heat, humidity, or full sun, and respond favorably to regular watering. Young vines expect to be growing during the rainy season, and appreciate ample moisture and sun. Creeping vines grow vigorously and rapidly, generating pretty yellow flowers as they sprawl across the landscape. Mature vines are undaunted by drought, and obtaining mature fruit requires a long growing season.

The mature melon resembles a small, round watermelon and is quite bitter (don't eat!). Each fruit yields a wealth of seeds. Unfortunately, dehulling the seeds is a tedious affair. Fresh shelled seeds are bland in taste, evidently developing their flavor only after being dried.

I am Yoruba from Nigeria. I agree entirely with the positive post by another member that colocynthis is definitely a staple of most Afri...Read Morecans that I have met in more than four continents of the world. Go on youtube.com and type "egusi recipe" and you'll see the different varieties of absolutely delicious meals made out of the ground dry seeds. Harvesting the seeds is exactly as he posted. The oil extracted from the seed is fantastic when eaten with cooked yams. Enjoy.

The information on this plant is completely wrong. The seeds are in no way toxic. They are commonly ground into a powder and eaten throug...Read Moreh out most of Africa. Commonly known as Egusi the seeds are extremely high in fats and protein and are very nutritious. The melons are inedible. Common harvest method is to allow melons to ripen then the melons are split in half and laid open face down to allow the melon flesh to rot a little before the seeds are collected. I have personally consumed significant quantities of the powdered seeds which are easily found in African markets.

Native of Turkey abounding in the Archipelago; also found in Africa (Nubia especially), Asia, Smyrna and Trieste. It is an annual plant r...Read Moreesembling the common watermelon at the size of an orange, yellow and smooth. Special if dried it is a powerful drastic hydragogue cathartic producing, when given in large doses, violent griping with, sometimes, bloody discharges and dangerous inflammation of the bowels. Death has resulted from a dose of 1 1/2 teaspoonsful of the powder. It is of such irritant nature that severe pain is caused if the powdered drug be applied to the nostrils; it has a nauseous, bitter taste. Colocynth fruits broken small are useful for keeping moth away from furs, woollens, etc.