Oyster Nut Fruit Plant (Telfairia occidentalis)

Botanical Name: Telfairia occidentalis

Common Names: Fluted Gourd, Fluted Pumpkin, Ugu, Ikong-Ubong

General Information: Grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. Popular food crop in West Africa, valued for both its leaves and seeds.

Provides medicines, oil, and fiber. Grown commercially for its seeds, widely traded in local markets, and transported to large towns.

Seeds have a pleasant almond-like flavor. Can be boiled and eaten as a nut or ground into flour for soups. Immature seeds are cooked or roasted, while mature seeds, due to antinutrients, are not consumed directly.

Nutritional Content:

Seeds contain up to 30% protein and a high content of non-drying oil.

Large seeds, up to 5cm in diameter, are contained in a fruit that can weigh up to 50kg.

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 1 to 2 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate