Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Mukolo Camp, Kavango River

Photo: Bart Wursten
C8 between Katima Mulilo and Kongola at turn-off to Kaenda

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Synonyms:	Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn. subsp. obtusiloba (Sond.) Meeuse Trichosanthes foetidissima Jacq. Zehneria obtusiloba Sond.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Herb with prostrate or climbing stems up to 3 m long, growing from a tuberous root. Plant somewhat sticky and unpleasantly smelling when crushed. Leaves narrowly to broadly ovate in outline, up to 9 × 10.5 cm, unlobed to 3-5-lobed, cordate at the base, more or less densely and finely rough-hairy on both surfaces; margin very finely toothed; petiole 0.5-5 cm long. Tendrils simple. Flowers unisexual, sometimes together in the same axils. Male flowers 3-15 in axillary clusters or racemes on peduncles 4.5-30 mm long; petals 2-5 mm long, cream, yellow or greenish-yellow. Female flowers solitary; petals 1.5-3 mm long. Fruit ovoid to almost round, 9-13 mm long, sometimes beaked, finely hairy, pale green with darker longitudinal lines, becoming orange to red when ripe.
Type location:	West Africa
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	foetidissima: very smelly; foetid.
Habitat:	In woodland and grassland, often by termite mounds or rivers.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Dec-Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa and Arabia and naturalised in parts of Asia.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 31 March 2018
Literature:	Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 243. (Includes a picture). Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 486 - 487. Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 168. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 38. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 91. Reekmans, M. (1983). Cucurbitaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Pages 468 - 469. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 53.

Other sources of information about Kedrostis foetidissima:

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Flora of Botswana: Kedrostis foetidissima
Flora of Burundi: Kedrostis foetidissima
Flora of the DRC: Kedrostis foetidissima
Flora of Mozambique: Kedrostis foetidissima
Flora of Rwanda: Kedrostis foetidissima
Flora of Zambia: Kedrostis foetidissima
Flora of Zimbabwe: Kedrostis foetidissima

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Kedrostis foetidissima
African Plant Database: Kedrostis foetidissima
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Kedrostis foetidissima
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Kedrostis foetidissima
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Kedrostis foetidissima
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Kedrostis foetidissima
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Kedrostis foetidissima
JSTOR Plant Science: Kedrostis foetidissima
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Kedrostis foetidissima
Plants of the World Online: Kedrostis foetidissima
Tropicos: Kedrostis foetidissima
Wikipedia: Kedrostis foetidissima