Wild gourd

Definition

= a fruit that looks like a melon, cucumber, or calabash vine; it has a thick, watery root, which can penetrate deep into the ground; its stems creep on the ground, clinging to bushes or fences with their tendrils; its leaves are triangular and lobed like melon leaves; its yellow flowers develop into round yellow fruits the size of a large apple or grapefruit; the shell of the fruit is hard and smooth, and inside is a spongy pulp with white or brown seeds; ◄ Citrullus colocynthis; ► slightly poisonous, but used for stomach disorders and as a purgative