The baboon's cucumber is a caudex-forming climbing plant from southern Africa. The species grows naturally in northern Namibia to southern South Africa. In dry savannahs, rocky areas and deserts.
The plant is particularly remarkable for the large caudex it forms, which can reach a diameter of 50 cm! This is a thickened, specialised stem in which water is stored, enabling the plant to survive dry periods. During the rainy season, thin stems grow from the caudex which, if given sufficient support, quickly climb to a height of 6 metres. The leaves are lobed and remain relatively small, giving the plant a compact and graceful appearance. The flowers are female or male and appear naturally during the rainy season. The female flowers appear solitary on the stem, while the male flowers grow in a larger inflorescence with 1 to 12 individual flowers. The female flowers are very similar to cucumber flowers, with the same yellow colour and shape but smaller. After pollination, small orange fruits about 1.5 cm in size form.
In temperate climates, this species is best kept as a houseplant. Make sure it has a light, sunny spot and well-drained soil (e.g. cactus soil or potting soil with sand). During the growing season, water regularly, but allow the soil to dry out thoroughly in between waterings. During the dormant period (often in winter), the plant loses its leaves and watering can be reduced.
Sowing instructions: Sow the seeds relatively shallow in sowing mix (mixed with extra sand preferably) and place them in a sunny spot. Keep the soil constantly moist and allow to germinate in a warm place (preferably between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius).
Photo 1: Laurent Houmeau, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo 3: Hildegard Klein
