Colocynth Plant

The Colocynth Plant (Citrullus colocynthis, Cucurbitaceae), also known as the "bitter cucumber," is a creeper and climbing herbaceous plant of the Cucurbitaceae species. It can grow up to 0.3 m and extend up to three m on the ground. It is found in southern and northern Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. Its cultivation is widespread in Riyadh City, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The colocynth plant looks like a melon and is one of the fastest-growing plants. It features triangular leaves with three to five lobes. Its branches are covered with bristles and bear yellow flowers that bloom in summer. It bears poisonous berry fruits that grow up to seven cm. It propagates from seeds in sandy soil. It is one of the plants that cannot withstand low temperatures, where it grows back in summer.

The colocynth plant is a medicinal plant. It can be used for landscaping and requires minimal care. It is suitable for cultivation in open spaces, rockeries, and highlands. It is used for delimiting terraces and covering soil.

The colocynth plant is cultivated among plants used for developing a vegetation cover at King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, northeast of Riyadh City. These plants include lavender, wild jujube, acacia, cynodon, buttercup, and peganum. The reserve covers an area of around 28,000 km. It comprises Rawdat al-Tanhat, Nurah, and al-Khafs, in addition to parts of ad-Dahna' Desert and as-Summan Plateau.