''Cucumis humifructus'', the aardvark cucumber or aardvark pumpkin, is a kind of

cucumber Cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated Vine#Horticultural climbing plants, creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that bears usually cylindrical Fruit, fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables.

(family Cucurbitaceae) from southern Africa, tropical Africa, and Madagascar which fruits underground. It is a prostrate vine up to seven meters (22 feet) in length. It is reliant on the aardvark to eat the fruit in order to spread and re-bury the seeds of the plant. The species was described in 1927, with the name spelled ''C. humofructus'', but this is corrected to ''C. humifructus'' following the

International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants The ''International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants'' (ICN) is the set of rules and recommendations dealing with the formal botanical names that are given to plants, fungi and a few other groups of organisms, all those "trad ...

Description

''Cucumis humifructus'' is thought to be the only '' Cucumis'' species having geocarpic (subterranean) fruit. The vines of the plant initially develop their fruits above ground on stalks which then bend and push back under the ground. The fruit then grows at a depth of between . According to the PBS "Nature" television series, usually regarded as trustworthy, the cucumber is sometimes as deep as three feet (0.9 meters). Most cucurbits have a single tendril at each node, but C. humifructus has 2 to 8, to give it the leverage needed to bury the young fruit. It develops a tough skin which is water-resistant, and can remain intact for months without decay. The plant grows as a trailing

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

from in tropical Africa and in southern Africa. It is the only fruit (and only form of plant matter) eaten by aardvarks, which otherwise feed exclusively on ants and termites. Aardvarks eat the fruit for its water content, and propagate the seeds through their feces, which are then buried by the animals. Due to the depth at which the fruits ripen, the seeds are unable to germinate without assistance, and ''C. humifructus'' is completely reliant on aardvarks to uncover their fruit. This plant may be the reason why the aardvark is the only mammal feeding on ants and termites that has retained functional cheek teeth.

Distribution and habitat

It has a growing season of between three and four months, with its habitat being restricted to the savanna regions of tropical and southern Africa. It typically grows within the geographical range of aardvark burrows, as the animals tend to defecate near their lairs.

Gallery

Cucumis humifructus fruit.jpg, Fruit Cucumis humifructus seeds.jpg, Seeds

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5192437 humifructus Tubers Plants by morphology Plants described in 1927