25,957 observationsNot Evaluated
Bitter Melon
Momordica charantia
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae βΊPhylum: Tracheophyta βΊClass: Magnoliopsida βΊOrder: Cucurbitales βΊFamily: Cucurbitaceae βΊGenus: Momordica
About
Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pear, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. It is sometimes known by names loaned from Asian languages.