Kiwano Horned Melon Fruit Stock Image

The horned melon, also called melano, African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, English tomato, or kiwano, is the vine Cucumis metuliferus and is of African origin. It is grown for its fruit, which looks like an oval melon with horn-like spines. The fruit of this plant is edible, but it is used as often for decoration as for food. Though the horned melon is native to the Kalahari desert, it is now grown in California and New Zealand. In Zimbabwe-Africa this cucumber is called 'gaka' or 'gakachika' and it is primarily used as a fruit-snack, salad and rarely for decoration.