Colocynth, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber

Where does Colocynth grow?

Found in: Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Arabia, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Africa, Bahrain, Benin, Burkina Faso, Canary Island, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinée, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Rotuma, Sahara, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Socotra, Senegal, Sikkim, Somalia, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen

Notes: There are 3 Citrullus species.

Status: It is a famine food.

Growing Colocynth, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber

Cultivation: It can be grown from seed or root segments.

Edible Uses: CAUTION: The fruit is poisonous if regularly eaten. The fruit requires long boiling to remove the bitter principle. The skin is pierced before boiling. The water is changed several times. The seeds are washed with salt water many times. They are also buried with salt in sand and kept covered there for a few weeks. They are then washed and ground and made into flour. The coating is removed. The seeds are also roasted. The seeds yield an edible oil. The fruit are pickled.

Production: In Sikkim fruit are available September to October.

Nutrition Info

Colocynth, Bitter Apple, Bitter Cucumber Photos

References

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