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''Cucumis metuliferus'', horned melon or kiwano, also African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, melano, in the southeastern United States, blowfish fruit, is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family, ''Cucurbitaceae''. Its fruit has horn-like spines, hence the name "horned melon". Ripe fruit has yellow-orange skin and lime green, jelly-like flesh with a tart taste, and texture similar to a cucumber. ''C. metuliferus'' is native to Sub-Saharan Africa.〔 It is now grown in California, Mississippi, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. ''C. metuliferus'' is a traditional food plant in Africa, and has potential to improve nutrition and food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land use. Along with the Gemsbok cucumber (''Acanthosicyos naudinianus)'' and Tsamma (''Citron melon)'' it is one of the few sources of water during the dry season in the Kalahari Desert.〔 ''Parc de Khal-agadi, pas si désert'', in Science & Vie n° 1130, November 2011, pp. 18-21.〕 In northern Zimbabwe it is called ''gaka'' or ''gakachika'', and is primarily used as a snack or salad, and rarely for decoration. It can be eaten at any stage of ripening, but when overripened, will burst forcefully to release seeds.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=dehisce )〕 The fruit's taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber and zucchini〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Living - Kiwano: It's what's inside that counts - Seattle Times Newspaper )〕 or a combination of banana, cucumber and lemon.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Dinner Diva: Let's discover some more little-known fruits )〕 It is also said to taste like an unripe, watered-down banana. A small amount of salt or sugar can increase the flavor. Some also eat the peel, which is very rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. The fruit can be used in cooking, but when eaten raw, most suck out the pulp and spit out the seeds. Despite the fruit's colorful appearance, it has not found any significant uses in Western cuisine, and has been called "astringent", and the prices "exorbitant". == Germination == Seeding optimum germination temperatures are between 20° and 35°C (68° to 95°F). Germination is delayed at 12°C (54°F), and inhibited at temperatures lower than 12°C or above 35°C. Thus, it is recommended to sow in trays and transplant into the field at the two true leaf stage. The best time for transplanting into an open field is in the spring when soil and air temperatures rise to around 15°C (59°F). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cucumis metuliferus」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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