Momordica charantia
Balsampear, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon, Bitter Balsam Apple, Balsam Apple, Wild Balsam Apple, Bitter Apple, Bitter Squash, Bitter Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Carilla Gourd, Carilla Bush, Balsam Pear, Jumbee Pumpkin, Maiden Apple
Other regional names: Lizzard Food +1 more
- Lizzard Food
- Lizzard Pepper
Also known as: Melothria pendula Sieber ex Cogn. +3 more
- Melothria pendula Sieber ex Cogn.
- Momordica charantia var. muricata Griseb., 1860
- Momordica muricata DC.
- Momordica sinensis Spreng.
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Cucurbitaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a climbing annual.
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Momordica charantia (commonly known as Balsampear or Bitter gourd) is a climbing plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Naturally occurring in Africa, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific, this species is primarily associated with wet tropical conditions. There are naturally occurring subspecies of this species, which are linked below.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Climber / Vine
Plant Type
Annual
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
AFRICA, ASIA-TROPICAL, AUSTRALASIA, PACIFIC
Regions (WGSRPD)
Australia, East Tropical Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China, Macaronesia, Malesia, Northeast Tropical Africa, Papuasia, South Tropical Africa, South-Central Pacific, Southern Africa, Southwestern Pacific, West Tropical Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Christmas I., Congo, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, The, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Socotra, Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe
Introduced Range
Plants flagged as 'Introduced' have been transported outside their native historical range by human activity. While many are common ornamentals, some may become naturalized or invasive in local environments. Local ecological guidelines require verification prior to planting.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Alabama, Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Aruba, Ascension, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, C. American Pacific Is., Cambodia, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Comoros, Connecticut, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Florida, Galápagos, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Jamaica, Korea, Leeward Is., Louisiana, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicobar Is., Niue, Panama, Paraguay, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rodrigues, Réunion, Samoa, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Subspecies, Varieties & Forms