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Xerosicyos pubescens

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Female-flowers.


The large one in Copenhagen Botanical Garden.

Author:  Monique Keraudren, 1964
Family:  CUCURBITACEAE
Origin:  Madagascar
Soil:  Rich  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  30-100 Centimetres
Height:  3-6 Metres
Flower:  Greenish-Yellow
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Might be: Zygosicyos pubescens, Gordon Douglas Rowley, 2002

This member of the Cucurbitaceae family was described by Monique Keraudren in 1964. It's from Madagascar, where it lives on the mountain slopes. Rich soil, some water and not too much sun. The caudex can grow ffrom 30 to 100 centimetres in diameter. The vines will reach for 3-6 metres - or more. As seen on the photo, the flowers are greenish-yellow.

The genera name from Greek xeros; 'dry' and sicyos; a cucumber'. The species name for the tiny hairs on the leaves.

This is a dioecious plant. On this close-up of the flower, it's easy to see why it's named pubescens (hairy).

*Gordon Douglas Rowley changed this plant into Zygosicyos pubescens in 2002, and published it in 2003. He have made some other changes which turned out to be questionable. We will see...


My plant four years later.


A giant: 50 centimetres in diameter, from Zürich Succulenten Sammlung.  Photo by Marlon Machado.