The economic value of horn melon is high. By processing the pappus fibers of horn melon seeds, soft fibers can be obtained, and the fibers can be used for textiles, thereby replacing cotton fibers. Fabrics made of horn melon fiber have many advantages such as smoothness, breathability, and comfort. Stem fiber can also be made into paper, sacks, ropes, etc. Seed cotton can be used as filler, velvet raw material, and horn and melon fiber can also be used as insulation materials.

Cape melon also has valuable medicinal value. Its roots and fruits are used medicinally and have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. Also useful for coughs and tumors. Its milk is poisonous, but it has the effects of relieving pain, reducing inflammation, strengthening the heart and protecting the liver. At the same time, its bark is also beneficial for epilepsy.

The horned melon, formerly known as zucchini (scientific name: Cucurbita pepo L.), is an annual trailing herb of the Cucurbitaceae family and the genus Cucurbita; the stem has ridges and grooves. The petioles are thick and covered with short bristles; the leaves are hard, upright, triangular, semicircular, dark green above, lighter below, and there are rough hairs on both sides of the veins. The tendrils are slightly thicker. Monoecious. The male flowers are solitary; the pedicel is thick, angular, covered with short yellow-brown setae; the calyx lobes are linear-lanceolate; the corolla is yellow, with a sharp tip; the stamen filaments are 15 mm long, and the anthers are close together. Female flowers are solitary, ovary ovate. The fruit stem is thick, with obvious ridges, and the fruit pedicle becomes thicker or slightly enlarged. The shape of the fruit varies depending on the variety; the seeds are oval, white, about 20 mm long, with arched and blunt edges.