The Fluted pumpkin

Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) also known as ugwu in Nigeria, is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. It is a member of the Cucurbitaceae (Gourd) family and is indigenous to southern Nigeria.

T. occidentalis is considered an “oil seed” the fluted gourd is high in oil (30%). The seeds constitute 27% of crude and 53% fats while the shoots of T. occidentalis contain high levels of potassium and iron. The leaves contain a high amount of antioxidant (Antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage), hepato protective (protects the liver) and antimicrobial properties (an agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth).

In Ofe egwusi (a typical Nigerian soup), the young shoots and leaves of the female part are the main ingredients. A large dark-red seed is rich in fat and protein and can be eaten whole, ground into powder for a kind of soup or made into a fermented porridge.

For further reading, source for the underlisted references:

Aiyelagbe, I. O. O. and Kintomo, A. A. (2002). Nitrogen response of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) grown sole or inter cropped with banana. Nutrient Cycling in Agro ecosystems, 64:231-235.

Emeberi, L. And Nwufo, M. (1990). Pod rots of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentlis Hook F.) in Imo State, Nigeria. International Biodeterioration, 26(1):63-68

Nwufo, M. I. (1994). Effects of water stress in the post harvest quality of two leafy vegetables, fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentlis) and Pterocarpus soyauxii during storage. J. Sci. Agric., 64:265-269.