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.

Cucumis sagittatus, synonymously known as Cucumis angolensis, Cucumis cogniauxianus and Cucumis dinteri or Goats Apple and Sierkomkommer as it is commonly known is a South African indigenous annual creeping to climbing vine with heart shaped leaves which arise from a perennial rootstock. The leaves are firm and thick in texture and the fruits are round smooth yellow to orange and about 3cm in diameter.