Cucumis is a genus of 32 species, indigenous mainly to Africa, also Asia, Australia and some islands in the Pacific. It includes two major commercial vegetable crops: Cucumus sativus which includes cucumbers from Asia and Cucumis melo which includes melons from Africa and Australasia, and two minor ones: the West Indian gherkin, Cucumis anguria and the Kiwano, Cucumis metuliferus. These last two species became cultivated crops outside their native Africa. The species name africanus refers to the natural distribution area of this plant. The genus name Cucumis is the Latin name for the cucumber which was already cultivated in Ancient Egypt.

The horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), also called African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, English tomato, melano, or kiwano, is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family. It is grown for its fruit, which looks like an oval melon with horn-like spines. The fruit of this plant is edible, but it is used as often for decoration as for food. When ripe, it has a yellow-orange skin and a lime green jelly-like flesh. The horned melon is native to Africa, and it is now grown in California, Chile, Australia and New Zealand as well. In Zimbabwe, this cucumber is called ‘gaka’ or ‘gakachika’ and it is primarily used as a fruit-snack, salad and rarely for decoration. It is eaten young, mature green or when ripe – bright yellow/orange (eaten at any stage of its development). It grows naturally in the fields and also in the bush. However, some people leave some to rot in the fields for next summer seeds/plants. Its taste has been compared to a combination of cucumber and zucchini or a combination of banana, cucumber and lemon. Some eat the peeling as well. It has a replica that does not have horns, but looks and tastes similar. The seeds are covered in a gelatin-like substance. The skin is very rich in vitamin c and fiber. Before being eaten, adding a small amount of salt or sugar can increase the flavor. The fruit can be used in cooking, but when eating raw, most suck out the pulp and spit out the seeds, although eating the skin and/or the seeds is also known.