This plant provides a staple Chinese food common in San Francisco markets and to some extent in southern Florida. The fruit may be eaten raw, similar to cucumbers, or cooked. It is bland and filling, but is not high in calories, being more of a food extender. The rind is not durable, but the fruit may keep 12 months. The plant is monoecious, the flowers being 3 to 4 inches across, yellow, and showy.
Flowers constantly form which permits constant refruiting.
Apparently, this plant is insect pollinated, but the pollinating agents are unknown.