Cucumis anguria

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Magnoliopsida
Ordo: Cucurbitales
Familia: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamilia: Cucurbitoideae
Tribus: Melothrieae
Subtribus: Cucumerinae
Genus: Cucumis
Species: Cucumis anguria
Varietas: C. a. var. anguria - C. a. var. longaculeatus

Name

Cucumis anguria L., Sp. pl. 2:1011. 1753

References

* USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. [1] (11 February 2009)

Vernacular names
English: West Indian Gherkin, Burr Gherkin, Burr Cucumber
Svenska: Anguriagurka

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Cucumis anguria, also called the West Indian Gherkin, Burr Gherkin, Burr Cucumber, or maxixe, and locally known as badunga or cohombro, is a vine grown for its fruit used as a vegetable. It is similar and related to the common cucumber (C. sativus) and its cultivars are known as gherkins.

The fruit is typically 4-8 cm in length, 2-4 cm in diameter, and covered with pointed spines.

Plants are originally from Africa. They are popular in Brazil, where they are used in the local version of cozido (meat-and-vegetable stew). The flavor of this gherkin is similar to that of the common cucumber.