It is reliant on the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) to eat the fruit in order to spread and re-bury the seeds of the plant.

The species was described in 1927, with the name spelled C. humofructus,[1] but this is corrected to C. humifructus following the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants.

[5] Most cucurbits have a single tendril at each node, but C. humifructus has 2 to 8,[6] to give it the leverage needed to bury the young fruit.

[3] This plant may be the reason why the aardvark is the only mammal feeding on ants and termites that has retained functional cheek teeth.

[4] It has a growing season of between three and four months, with its habitat being restricted to the savanna regions of tropical and southern Africa.