Cucumis hystrix Chakrav.

Plants scandent. Stem and branches angular-sulcate, scabrous, white hirsute. Tendrils filiform, simple. Petiole 6-10 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, 6-13 × 6-10(-12) cm, irregularly 3-5-lobed; lobes triangular, base cordate, margin dentate, apex acute. Plants monoecious. Male flowers soli-tary or subfasciculate; calyx tube narrowly campanulate, ca. 6 mm; segments linear, 1-2 mm; corolla yellow; segments ovate-oblong, 5-6 × 3-4 mm; filaments ca. 1 mm; anthers ca. 2 mm. Female flowers solitary; pedicels ca. 5 mm; calyx and corolla as in male flowers; corolla 8-10 mm; ovary oblong-ovoid, ca. 10 × 4 mm, densely yellow-brown hispid; style 2-3 mm; stigmas 3-lobed. Fruit oblong, 4-5 × 1.5-2.3 cm, muricate, verrucose. Seeds narrowly ovate, 3-4 mm, both surfaces smooth, emarginate. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests between 800-1,500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

The fruit are eaten fresh as a vegetable. They are used in salads. The leaves are boiled and eaten.