Common name: Colocynth
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. APNI* 
Description: Perennial trailing herb with a tuberous rootstock and scabrous stems.
Leaves with lamina 2–10 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, palmately 3–5-lobed to pinnately 5–9-lobed; petiole 1–6 cm long, scabrous.
Male flowers on pedicels 1–2 cm long, petals c. 7 mm long, greenish yellow. Female flowers on pedicels 1–4 cm long, petals 6–10 mm long.
Fruit ± globose, 5–12 cm diam., glabrous, green mottled with yellow or yellow when ripe.
Distribution and occurrence: especially in disturbed inland areas, particularly in semi-arid areas. Native of Asia, N Afr.
NSW subdivisions: *NWP, *SWP, *NFWP, *SFWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *S.A.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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