[West Indian Gherkin, Bur Cucumber, Gooseberry Gourd (English);
Concombre Antillais, Cornichon des Antilles, Ti-concombre, Macissis
(French); Pepino das Antilhas, Cornichão das Antillas, Machiche,
Maxixé (Portuguese); Cucumis anguria]
True Gherkins are a small non-sativa cucumber native to southern Africa from Zaire south to Botswana and naturalized in Madagascar, but are best known for cultivation in the Caribbean region. The non-bitter less spiky varieties developed in the Caribbean have been reintroduced to Africa and are now cultivated there. The plant is also grown in Brazil and other parts of South America.
In the Caribbean and South America fruit is picked quite young, as it gets bitter and more spiky when much over 1-1/2 inches long. It is generally pickled, but is also cooked as a vegetable, particularly in soups. In Africa, leaves of the bitter varieties are used as greens, and some of the non-bitter varieties are pickled.
In the U.S. this plant is grown in gardens for private use in Florida
and exists in isolated patches as weeds in several other states including
a county each in California and Texas. It is not considered an aggressive
weed and seeds are available from suppliers.
Photo © source and licensing lost.
More on Cucumbers.