Cyclanthera pedata
(L.)Schrad.
Cucurbitaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Achoccha
Fruiting plant with a smoothskin fruit
Photograph by: Zyance
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Fruiting plant with a smoothskin fruit
Photograph by: Zyance
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Fruits
Photograph by: Raidy
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering plant
Photograph by: H. Zell
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Close-up of male flowers
Photograph by: H. Zell
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Cyclanthera pedata is an annual plant that can grow up to 4.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
C. and S. America - from Mexico south to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
Edibility Rating |    |
Medicinal Rating |  |
Habit | Annual |
Height | 4.50 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a very warm, sunny and sheltered position in a rich well-drained soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The achocha is occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit in S. America, there are many named forms[
196- Title
- Lost Crops of the Incas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Popenoe. H. et al
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-309-04264-X
- Description
- An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.
]. Plants are not very cold-hardy in Britain and are normally grown in a greenhouse. However, if the plants are started in a greenhouse in the spring and grown on well it is possible to get reasonable yields in most years outdoors in Britain. Fruiting plants have been seen outdoors on a number of occasions at Kew Botanical gardens[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit. Young fruits are eaten raw or cooked and have a similar taste to cucumbers though they are not crisp[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
,
193- Title
- Wild Food Plants of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Low. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson.
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-207-14383-8
- Description
- Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Older fruits are cooked, they can be stuffed in much the same way as marrows[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
,
196- Title
- Lost Crops of the Incas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Popenoe. H. et al
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-309-04264-X
- Description
- An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.
]. The fruit is about 6 - 15cm long[
196- Title
- Lost Crops of the Incas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Popenoe. H. et al
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-309-04264-X
- Description
- An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.
] and 6cm wide[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Leaves and tender young shoots - cooked and used as greens[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
,
284- Title
- Cucurbitaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cucurbit.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site with a wide range of information and some excellent pictures of plants in this family.
].
Medicinal
A tea made from the seeds is used in the treatment of high blood pressure[
284- Title
- Cucurbitaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cucurbit.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site with a wide range of information and some excellent pictures of plants in this family.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow mid spring in a rich compost in a warm greenhouse. Put 2 or 3 seeds in a pot and thin the seedlings to the strongest plant. Plant out after the last expected frost and give the plants some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well.
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