Lagenaria sphaerica is a herbaceous climber in the family Cucurbitaceae.

The may grow along river floodplains or up into the canopy of riparian forests.

These plants produce large white flowers which attract many insects.

In Tanzania, only the male flowers produce nectar, which is fed on by the Eastern Olive Sunbird, but the actual pollinators are carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa; female individuals mimic the males but are nectarless.

Apart from consumption, the fruit are also used a soap substitute, for rodenticide and insecticide, and by children as balls.