| Etymology | Genus | To bite, reference to the seeds which look like they are bitten |
|---|---|---|
| Species | unknown | |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae | |
| Synonyms | - | |
| Common Names | Bitter Gourd, Bitter Lemon, 苦瓜 | |
| Status | Exotic: Casual | |
| Form | Climber | |
| Native Distribution | Africa, Tropical Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands | |
Diagnostics:
Momordica charantia is a herbaceous climber cultivated for its edible fruits. Its leaves are very deeply lobed and have tendrils opposite to them like those in the same family. The yellow flowers are separate in sexes. Most distinct are the elongated fruits that are warty in appearance (or with longitudinal ridges), with the size and warts differing with the cultivars.
Cultivated Bitter Gourd in a garden, Punggol Park (2020).
Deeply lobed leaf.
Flower.
Fruit.
References
-Author: Siyang
Posted: 2020-04-20 / Modified: 2020-05-30
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