Akhumti'e

Akhumti'e, Akhum amtixa, is a crop grown across the moist regions in southern Yalhuaca, as well as some growing on smaller lakes and swamps throughout northern Yalhuaca.

Akhumti'e grows only in water or very water-logged regions. It takes around 70 days from seed to fruit, and is grown year-round, most importantly in dry season.

One vine may ramble to around 10 feet long with huge, flat leaves out to each side of the vine. It is very flat until the flowering stage, when large, trumpet-like white flowers emerge from each leaf node. Domesticated versions have bisexual flowers, though the wild types have unisexual flowers and significantly fewer of them. Upon pollination, a fruit roughly the size of a butternut squash with smooth, lime-green skin. Skin turns brown during storage. Each fruit has seeds in the middle, usually 5-10 seeds, or if it is zucchini-shaped, it has 5-10 seeds along the entire centre. Each 10 foot vine can produce up to 20 fruits.

One Akhumti'e fruit, usually 1.5 to 2 cups, has around 20 or 30 calories.

Why is it eaten if it provides so little nutrition?

Firstly, it has decent amount of many vitamins, primarily vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A.

Secondly, it is over 98% water. It can be stored for a very long time due to it's thick husk and therefore can be used for drinking water in the countryside when water is scarce. Usually, Akhumti'e is seen as a staple in the countryside even though it's grown on the lake.

The rind of the fruit is very tough and fibrous and can be used for fibres for clothing or tinder.

Akhumti'e flesh is usually scooped out of the husk, mashed with a wooden or metal implement called a Samji ( similar to a spatula or potato masher.) This produces Kunoc, an orange or yellow coloured juice. This is bitter or slightly sweet in taste.