Acanthosicyos is a genus of thorny shrubs of the botanical family Cucurbitaceae, subfamily Cucurbitoideae. The genus name derives from the Greek words "akantha" for thorn and "sykios" for cucumber or gourd. Endemic to the Namib Desert in Africa, this genus is represented by two known species including Acanthosicyos horridus, the nara melon, an important food plant in its native range. The Gemsbok cucumber (Acanthosicyos naudinianus) is found as a trailing herb throughout much of western Botswana, eastern Namibia and northern South Africa.