Rough leaved cucumis

Rough-leaved cucumis (Cucumis meeusei) is a woody herb with what only can be described as a 'scrambling habit'. Another key feature is its rounded fruits with cone-shaped bristles. Bristles also appear on the leaves and stems, making them rough to touch. It has small, cream-coloured flowers that are produced close to the stem. Both male and female grow on the same stem. The leaves are some 3cm in across with 5 distinct lobes.

Cucumis meeusei grows mainly in rocky habitats or along drainage lines, common throughout the drier parts of Namibia. There are 8 species of Cucumis, not always easily identifiable from one another.