Telfairia occidentalis

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Botanical Description: Telfairia occidentalis, is a dioecious vine (having separate male and female plants), which means that successful cultivation requires both male and female plants for fruit production. The vine produces tendrils and can climb on supports, reaching lengths of 10 to 20 meters under suitable conditions. The leaves are large, fluted, and palmately lobed, generally five-lobed when mature. They are deep green, coarse, and have a slightly rough texture. As a dioecious plant, it has distinct male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are white and fairly large, though they are not particularly showy. The fruit is large, elongated, and can weigh several kilograms. The outer surface is hard and ridged (fluted). Inside, the fruit contains many large, flat, ovoid seeds which are edible and highly nutritious. The seeds are surrounded by a spongy fibrous pulp that is not eaten.
Flowering/Fruiting: Flowering usually begins around April or May. Fruiting period often falls around June to October.
Plant Uses: Nutritional and Culinary Uses, Medicinal Uses and Economic Importance.
Origin: Introduced
Locality: Model Girls Secondary School Obio Akpor.
Habit: Climber
Mode: Cultivated