The World Flora Online

Plants annual, scandent, many branched; stem and branches pubescent. Tendrils to 20 cm, puberulent, simple. Petiole slender, 4-6 cm, white pubescent at first, glabrescent; leaf blade ovate-reniform or suborbicular, 4-12 × 4-12 cm, membranous, puberulent on veins, 5-7-partite; lobes ovate-oblong, veins palmate, margin crenate or irregularly lobed, apex obtuse or acute; sinus semicircular. Plants monoecious. Male flowers solitary in axils of leaves; pedicel slender, 3-7 cm, puberulent, with a median bract; bract reniform or orbicular, 5-15 mm, entire, both surfaces puberulent; calyx segments ovate-lanceolate, 4-6 × 2-3 mm, white pubescent, apex acute; corolla yellow; segments obovate, 15-20 × 8-12 mm, pubescent, obtuse or retuse; stamens 3, free; anther cells conduplicate. Female flowers solitary; pedicel 10-12 cm, with a bract at base; ovary fusiform, densely verrucose; stigmas expanded, 2-lobed. Fruit orange when mature, fusiform or cylindric, 10-20 cm, verrucose, 3-valved from apex. Seeds numerous, oblong, 15-20 × 10-15 cm. Fl. and fr. May-Oct.

Source: [
• 22
]. 

1. Momordica charantia L., Sp. Pl. 1009 (1753). Lectotipo (designado por Jeffrey, 1967): Herb. Clifford, 451, Momordica 2 (BM!). Ilustr.: M. Nee, Fl. Veracruz 74: 93, t. 15 (1993). N.v.: cunde amor, melo de ratón, papayiyo, pepino cimarrón, balsam-apple, pepinillo.

Por R.J. Hampshire.

Bejucos, hasta 6 m, muy ramificados y enredándose entre arbustos y hierbas; tallos delgados, pelosos a glabrescentes. Hojas 4-11 cm, orbiculares, profundamente 3-5(-7)-lobadas, los lobos constrictos basalmente, cartáceas, las nervaduras pelosas, profundamente cordatas, remota y toscamente dentadas, agudas, mucronadas, puncteadas; pecíolos 1.5-4.5(-6) cm. Flores solitarias; pedúnculos (3-)4.5-9 cm, bracteadas; brácteas 3-8(-20) mm de diámetro, generalmente por debajo de la mitad del pedúnculo, reniformes. Hipanto de las flores estaminadas peloso, cilíndrico-campanulado; lobos del cáliz 2.5-4 mm, ovados; corola 7-15 mm, amarilla; filamentos 1-1.5 mm; anteras 2-2.5 mm. Flores pistiladas pedunculadas y con el perianto como en las flores pistiladas, pero los lobos del cáliz más angostos; ovario fusiforme, rostrado, puberulento en líneas, tuberculado, los tubérculos glabros; estilo 2-3.5 mm; estigmas 3, 2-lobados. Frutos 3-12 cm, fusiformes, rostrados, carnosos, generalmente explota al madurar en 3 valvas recurvadas, anaranjado brillante; semillas numerosas, 8-16 × 4-9 mm, oblongas, ligeramente aplanadas, negras con formas como alas pardo oscuras, la pulpa rojo brillante. Orillas de caminos, bordes de ríos, vegetación secundaria. T ( Novelo et al. 22, BM); Ch ( Breedlove y Thorne 20719, MO); Y ( Duran et al. 3462, MO); C ( Alvaro y Alvarez 742, MO); QR ( Téllez y Cabrera 2385, BM); B ( Whitefoord 2360, BM); G ( Ortíz 2012, BM); H ( Blackmore y Chorley 3687, BM); ES ( Linares 2595, MO); ES ( Linares 2595, MO); N ( Hamblett et al. 1113, BM); CR ( Khan et al. 440, BM); P ( Seeman s.n., BM). 0-500(-700) m. (Nativa de los trópicos del Viejo Mundo; ampliamente naturalizada en la región neotropical.)

Dieterle (1976) registra a Momordica balsamina L. como ocasionalmente cultivada en América y Wunderlin (1978) la registra como una hierba de las regiones tropicales y subtropicales del Viejo Mundo, pero no se ha visto ningún ejemplar de Mesoamérica.

Source: [
• 24
]. 

Momordica charantia L., Sp. Pl. 1009. 1753.

Plantas anuales, trepadoras o rastreras, delgadas a robustas; tallos acostillados, casi glabros a crespo-pubescentes o vellosos; monoicas. Hojas de contorno ampliamente ovado a circular, 1–15 cm de largo y 2–16 cm de ancho, cordadas, membranosas, crespo-pubescentes o híspidas a casi glabras, profundamente 3–7-palmatilobadas, los lobos graciosamente recurvados, el central más grande, ampliamente obovado a elíptico o lanceolado, sinuado-lobulado o sinuado, denticulado, apiculado; pecíolos 0.4–8.5 cm de largo, casi glabros a vellosos; zarcillos no ramificados. Flores solitarias y axilares; flores estaminadas en pedúnculos 0.6–4.5 cm de largo, apicalmente bracteados, bráctea sésil, redondeada, 1–16 mm de largo y 1–22 mm de ancho, apiculada, cordada, verde, distante de la flor, pedicelos excediendo el pedúnculo, 2.2–9.2 cm de largo, hipanto campanulado-obcónico, 2–5.5 mm de largo, sépalos 5, ovados, 2.5–6 mm de largo, cortamente acuminados, pétalos 5, libres, obovado-oblongos, 7–20 mm de largo, amarillos, estambres 3, anteras cohesionadas, tecas 3-plegadas; flores pistiladas en pedicelos de 0.5–7.5 cm de largo, pedicelos frecuentemente con una bráctea pequeña en su mitad inferior, hipanto muy corto, sépalos lanceolados, 1.5–5 mm de largo, pétalos 6–13 mm de largo, ovario elipsoide, rostrado, tuberculado, 6–12 mm de largo, placentas 3, óvulos numerosos, horizontales, estigmas 3. Fruto elipsoide, 2–12.5 cm de largo y 1–4 cm de ancho, rostrado, tuberculado, carnoso, péndulo, anaranjado, dehiscente en 3 valvas cuando maduro, pedúnculo 1–12 cm de largo; semillas oblongas, 8–14 mm de largo, 4.2–8.2 mm de ancho y 2–3.5 mm de grueso, cuando frescas envueltas en una pulpa rojo brillante, cafés, sus caras labradas.

Muy común como maleza en todas las zonas del país, especialmente abundante en los márgenes de lagos; 0–1000 m; fl y fr durante todo el año; Araquistain 1862, Guzmán 1516; nativa de los Paleotrópicos, a veces cultivada, naturalizada en América tropical. Un género paleotropical con cerca de 40 especies. "Comida de culebra", "Sorosí".

Source: [
• 25
]. 

Leaves simple, reniform. to suborbicular, 5- to 7-lobate to the middle or beyond, 3-6(-12) cm long and wide, the lobes oblong to spatulate, the apex obtuse and mucronate, the base cordate, the margin with obtuse to subacute teeth, submembranaceous to chartaceous, the upper surface minutely glandular, puberulent, at least on the veins; petiole 1-6 cm long, slender, striate; tendrils simple. Staminate flowers solitary, axillary; peduncle slender, 4-15 cm long, pubescent to puberulent, 5-lobate to near the middle, the lobes ovate lanceolate, 4-9 mm long, acute; corolla yellow, 5-lobate, the lobes oblong obovate, ca. 1 cm long, the apex obtuse to emarginate, pubescent on the outer surface and on the upper edge of the inner with both simple and glandular hairs, prominently 5- to 9-nerved; stamens 3, the filaments free, 2-3 mm long, the anthers 3, thecas flexu- ous, connate, forming an irregular head, ultimately free. Pistillate flowers soli- tary, axillary; peduncle 5-10 cm long, slender, pubescent, bearing a minute sub- basal bract; calyx and corolla similar to those of the staminate flower; ovary fusiform, rostrate, tuberculate, pubescent, the styles 3, connate, 2-3 mm long, the stigmas 3, each 2-lobate. Fruit bright orange red, ovoid to fusiform, long rostrate, 4-8 cm long, 2-4 cm in diameter, the surface with obtuse to acute tubercles, glabrate, 3-carpellate, 3-valvate, the valves curling back to expose the bright red aril surrounding each seed; seeds numerous in each carpel, oblong, 8-10 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, moderately compressed, slightly 3-toothed at both ends, the testa rugulose.

Source: [
• 26
]. 

Bejuco rastrero a trepador (y a veces colgante), monoico; tallos 5-surcados, los zarcillos simples o birramificados. Hojas simples, 1.5–10 X 2–9.5 cm, ampliamente ovadas a suborbiculares, profunda y palmadamente 3–9-lobuladas, de otra forma obtusa a subagudamente dentadas, sin glándulas laminares. Infls. de 1 fl. solitaria. Fls. con el hipanto someramente cupulado o infundibuliforme; sépalos 5; pétalos 5, amarillentos, connatos en una corola rotada o campanulada, los lóbulos 6–13 mm; estambres (fls. estaminadas) (2)3, los filamentos separados; anteras connatas, triplegadas; estaminodios (fls. pistiladas) 3, glanduliformes; estilo 1; estigmas 3, bilobulados. Frs. rojo anaranjado cuando maduros, 2–5.5 cm, oblongoides o fusi- formes, carnosos, tuberculados, dehiscentes en 3 válvulas, con 3 placentas; semillas numerosas, oblongoides, ± comprimidas, esculturadas, cubiertas por una pulpa roja.

Source: [
• 27
]. 

Herbaceous vine to 8 m long; stems slender, nearly cylindrical, striate, glabrous to puberulent, many-branched; tendrils axillary and simple. Leaf blades 3-11 x 3-10 cm, membranous, puberulent on both surfaces, chartaceous, with coarse hairs on both surfaces, deeply 5-lobed, the lobes elliptic to obovate-ovate, with obtuse or acute apices, the base cordate, the margins crenate and denticulate; petioles slender, as long as the blade. Flowers solitary, long-pediceled; bract ovate to kidney-shaped, on lower portion of pedicel. Calyx bell-shaped, yellowish green, 10-12 mm long, with lanceolate lobes; corolla light yellow, rotate, with 5 spreading petals, 1-1.7 cm long; stamens free, with short filaments; ovary ellipsoid and muricate. Capsule ellipsoid-angular to fusiform-angular, with thornlike projections (muricate), 3-5 cm long, turning from green to orange-yellow, opening from the apex along 3 valves, exposing the seeds, which hang freely from the fruit wall. Seeds few to many, flattened and beaked, covered with a bright red, juicy aril.

Source: [
• 29
]. 

Annual, monoecious, climber or trailer with unbranched tendrils. Stem glabrous or hairy. Leaves suborbicular to orbicular, 5-10(-12) cm long and broad, mucronate-dentate, deeply 5-7-lobed, lobes ovate-oblong or ovate-elliptic, glabrous or pubescent, acute, base constricted. Petiole 1.5-3.5 (-6) cm long, villous. Flowers yellow, c. 3 cm across, solitary, male peduncles c. 7.0 cm long, bearing the bracts about the middle or below the middle. Calyx pubescent. Corolla slightly zygomorphic, with obovate, obtuse lobes. Ovary fusiform, muricate. Fruit oblong-fusiform or oval, 7-25 cm long, dehiscent. Seeds oblong, 1-1.5 cm long, 6-9 mm broad, embedded in red pulp, sculptured.

Source: [
• 33
]. 

Slender climber 2(–4) m long, (sub)annual; sparsely to densely pubescent, partly glabrescent; monoecious. Leaves: blade usually deeply palmately 5–7(–9)-lobed, reniform or suborbicular in outline, 2.5–10 cm diam., glands minute, occasionally a few towards the blade base; base cordate; margin sinuate-dentate, ± mucronate; apex acute-acuminate, lobes (ob)ovate, narrowed at base; petiole 1.5–5 cm long, without glands. Flowers solitary, ± pubescent; petals yellow. Male flowers: stalk slender, with bract below middle; peduncle 0.5–3 cm long; bract reniform-suborbicular, 5–15 mm diam., green, apex ± mucronate, margin subentire; pedicel 20–60 mm long; receptacle-tube cup-shaped, 2–4 mm long and wide; sepals ovate-elliptic(-oblong), 4–6 by 2–3 mm, acute, pale green; petals obovate(-oblong), 10–20 by 7–15 mm, apex ± mucronate, basal scales 2; filaments 1.5–2 mm long, inserted in the throat of the receptacle-tube; anthers coherent; disc cup-shaped, ca 1.5 mm diam. Female flowers: peduncle 0.5–5 cm long; bract 1–10 mm diam.; pedicel 10–50(–100) mm long; ovary narrowly rostrate, 8–30 by 2–4 mm, muricate tuberculate; sepals narrow, oblong-lanceolate, 2–5 mm long; petals smaller than in male, 7–12 mm long; style ca 2 mm long; staminodes whitish, ca 0.5 mm long. Fruit (ovoid-)ellipsoid or oblong, narrowed at the ends, at apex usually rostrate, 2–11(–40, cultivated) by 2–4(–6) cm, orange, soft tuberculate in 8–10 ridges, and usually soft spiny in between, splitting incompletely with 3 valves exposing orange pulp; fruit stalk 3.5–15 cm long. Seeds few (to numerous), ± square, compressed, 8–11(–15) by 5–8 mm, margin grooved; testa pale brown, sculptured.

Source: [
• 34
]. 

Leaves simple, deeply palmately 3-7-lobed. Tendrils simple, unbranched. Fruit bright orange-red, with longitudinal rows of larger tubercles and with smaller interstitial tubercles.

Source: [
• 31
]. 

Climber, flowers yellow

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Fruit ripening orange, 2–3 in. long, bursting in 3 valves to expose the carmine red seeds

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Seeds 8–11 × 4·5–8 × 2–3·5 mm., enveloped in sticky red pulp, ovate-elliptic to oblong in outline; faces flattened, sculptured, with sinuate edges; margins grooved.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Fruit 2·5–4·8(11) × 1·5–2·3(4) cm., ovoid-rostrate or ellipsoid, longitudinally ribbed and tuberculate, bright orange-red, dehiscent into 3 valves; fruit-stalk 3·4–15 cm. long.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Female flowers: peduncle 0·2–5 cm. long; bract 1–12 mm. long; pedicel 1–10 cm. long; ovary 8–11(30) × 2–4 mm., ovoid-rostrate to fusi-form, ridged, pilose on ridges, tuberculate; receptacle-tube 1–3 mm. long, lobes 2–5 mm. long, lanceolate; petals 0·7–1·2 cm. long.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

male flowers: peduncle 0·3–5 cm. long; bract 2–17 mm. long, broadly ovate or reniform, sessile, cordate, amplexicaul, obtuse or retuse, apiculate, green; pedicel 2–9·5 cm. long. Receptacle-tube 1–5 mm. long; lobes 3–7 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate. Petals 1·0–2·5 cm. long, pale to deep yellow, ovate to obovate.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Flowers monoecious, solitary.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Tendrils simple.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Petiole 0·5–7 cm. long.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Leaf-lamina 1–10 × 1–12·5 cm., broadly ovate to orbicular in outline, cordate, narrowly decurrent on to petiole, punctate and sparsely pubescent to densely villous on veins beneath, sparsely hirsute especially on veins above, deeply palmately 3–7-lobed, lobes variously sinuate-dentate or lobulate, acute to retuse, apiculate.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Stems prostrate or scandent to 5 m., sparsely to densely crispate-pubescent or villous, especially at nodes.

Source: [
• 20
]. 

Seeds oblong, ± 8–11 × 4.5–6 × 2.5–3.5 mm.; testa sculptured; margins grooved.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Annual climber or trailer to 5 m.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Stems herbaceous, ridged, glabrous or hairy, strap-shaped at the base.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Leaf-blade broadly ovate-reniform or orbicular in outline, cordate, 25–100 mm. long, 30–125 mm. broad, glabrous or pubescent (especially on the nerves) on both surfaces, deeply palmately (3–)5(–7)-lobed; lobes obovate, ovate-elliptic or rhombic in outline, narrowed towards the base, acute and apiculate, sinuate-toothed and unlobed or more usually sinuate-lobulate; petioles 14–70 mm. long.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Tendrils simple.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Male flowers solitary; peduncle 5–28 mm. long, bearing an apical 3–15 mm. long 4–22 mm. broad suborbicular apiculate clasping green bract; pedicel 18–55 mm. long; receptacle-tube obconic, pale greenish-yellow, 2–4 mm. long; lobes ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, adpressed to lower surface of the petals, 3–6.5 mm. long; petals obovate-lingulate, apiculate, 11–22 mm. long, 7.5–15 mm. broad, pale yellow to orange-yellow, 2 with scales inside at the base; stamens 3; anthers coherent in centre of flower; thecae triplicate.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Monoecious.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Fruit on a 37–150 mm. or more long stalk, pendulous, broadly ovoid and beaked to attenuate-ellipsoid, 35–110 mm. long, 20–40 mm. across, reddish-orange with a paler apex, ornamented with ± 8 longitudinal rows of subconical tubercles and with many smaller tubercles in between, splitting into 3 valves and exposing the seeds sheathed in sticky red pulp hanging in two rows from the faces of each valve.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Female flowers with peduncle 2–50 mm. long, bearing an apical broadly ovate or suborbicular 1–12 mm. long 1–10 mm. broad sessile bract; pedicel 10–100 mm. long; ovary ovoid and beaked to elongate-fusiform, muricate-tuberculate, 8–30 mm. long, 2–4 mm. across; receptacle-lobes linear, acute, 2–5 mm. long, reflexed at the tips; petals 7–12 mm. long, 3–6 mm. wide.

Source: [
• 21
]. 

Prostrate or scandent herb. Tendrils simple. Stems and petioles concolorous, uniformly green. Leaf lamina deeply palmately 3-7-lobed usually to middle or beyond; lobes narrowed towards base, rhombic, elliptic or obovate in outline, ± sinuate-lobulate. Male flowers solitary, pedicel 20-95 mm long; peduncle free from petiole of subtending leaf. Ovary and fruit with longitudinal rows of larger tubercles and with smaller interstitial tubercles; fruit stalk 34-122 mm long. Flowers pale to deep yellow.

Source: [
• 30
]. 

Perennial herb.Stems prostrate or scandent to 5 m, sparsely to densely crispate-pubescent or villous, especially at nodes. Leaf-lamina 1-10 x 1-12·5 cm, broadly ovate to orbicular in outline, cordate, narrowly decurrent on to petiole, punctate and sparsely pubescent to densely villous on veins beneath, sparsely hirsute especially on veins above, deeply palmately 3-7-lobed, lobes variously sinuate-dentate or lobulate, acute to retuse, apiculate. Petiole 0·5-7 cm long. Tendrils simple. Flowers monoecious, solitary. Male flowers: peduncle 0·3-5 cm long; bract 2-17 mm long, broadly ovate or reniform, sessile, cordate, amplexicaul, obtuse or retuse, apiculate, green; pedicel 2-9·5 cm long. Receptacle-tube 1-5 mm long; lobes 3-7 mm long, ovate-lanceolate. Petals 1·0-2·5 cm long, pale to deep yellow, ovate to obovate. Female flowers: peduncle 0·2-5 cm long; bract 1-12 mm long; pedicel 1-10 cm long; ovary 8-11(30) × 2-4 mm, ovoid-rostrate to fusiform, ridged, pilose on ridges, tuberculate; receptacle-tube 1-3 mm long, lobes 2-5 mm long, lanceolate; petals 0·7-1·2 cm long. Fruit 2·5-4·8(11) × 1·5-2·3(4) cm, ovoid-rostrate or ellipsoid, longitudinally ribbed and tuberculate, bright orange-red, dehiscent into 3 valves; fruit-stalk 3·4-15 cm long. Seeds 8-11 x 4·5-8 x 2-3·5 mm, enveloped in sticky red pulp, ovate-elliptic to oblong in outline; faces flattened, sculptured, with sinuate edges; margins grooved.

Source: [
• 31
]. 

Liane' herbacée, monoïque, annuelle; tiges grimpantes ou rampantes, glabres ou tomenteuses.' Feuilles' à pétiole de 12-70 mm de long, glabrescent ou poilu; limbe largement réniforme ou suborbiculaire, cordé, de 3-12 cm de long et de large, profondément 3-7-lobé, à lobes découpés jusqu'à la moitié de la longueur du limbe, obovales-oblongs ou ovales-elliptiques, rétrécis à la base, aigus et apiculés au sommet, membraneux, glabre sur les 2 faces ou légèrement pubescent surtout sur les nervures.' Fleurs' ♂ solitaires, jaunes; pédicelle de 2-8 cm de long, muni dans sa moitié inférieure d'une bractée foliacée verte, réniforme ou orbiculaire-cordée, de 5-15 mm de long et de large; réceptacle obconique ou campanulé, de 2-4 mm de long; sépales ovales-lancéolés, aigus au sommet, de 4-6 mm de long et 2 mm de large; pétales foliacés, à nervures nettement visibles, obovales, un peu unguiculés, apiculés au sommet, de 10-20 mm de long et 7-15 mm de large, deux d'entre eux terminés en écaille à la base; étaminés 3, à filet court; anthères cohérentes au centre de la fleur; loges en S renversé.' Fleurs' ♀ solitaires; pédicelle de 5-10 cm de long, orné d'une bractée foliacée comme chez les fleurs ♂; périanthe semblable à celui des fleurs ♂; ovaire fusiforme ou ovoïde, ± rostré au sommet, muriqué. Baies rouge vermillon à maturité, largement ovoïdes ou ovoïdes-oblongues, déhiscentes par 3 valves, de 4-15 cm de long et 2,5-4 cm de diam., en bec au sommet, ornées d'environ 8 rangées de tubercules coniques assez épais et de tubercules plus petits entre les rangées; pédicelle de 3-15 cm de long.'Graines oblongues, presque tridentées au sommet, de 10-16 mm de long, 7-9 mm de large et 2-3 mm d'épaisseur, à testa ornementé et à marges cannelées.

Source: [
• 32
]. 

Liana/volúvel/trepadeira

Extending into moister regions.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Scrub and secondary places, forest edges; at low and medium altitudes.

Source: [
• 34
]. 

Riverine fringes, old cultivations.

Source: [
• 30
]. 

Riverine fringes, lake margins, old cultivations.

Source: [
• 31
]. 

Forêts ombrophiles, forêts secondaires, forêts sèches, savanes herbeuses, marais, bords de rivière; rudérale.

Source: [
• 32
]. 

Terrícola

Widespread in the tropics and subtropics of both the Old and New World.

Source: [
• 26
]. 

Common in open, moist areas. Lameshur (A2734), Johnson Bay (A4671). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; originally native to the Old World tropics, now pantropical in distribution.

Source: [
• 29
]. 

Native to India.

Source: [
• 30
]. 

Pantropical, probably an introduction in the New World. Introduced into Namibia, South Africa (Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal).

Source: [
• 31
]. 

Espèce pantropicale, probablement introduite du Nouveau Monde.

Source: [
• 32
]. 

Tropical and subtropical Africa and S, E, and SE Asia, Malesia, Australia and the Pacific; also common in America where introduced. Cultivated mostly in larger-fruited cultivars (type a cultivated specimen in the Netherlands).

Source: [
• 34
]. 

1. — Graines utilisées pour les maladies du ventre. 2. — Feuilles consommées comme légume.

Source: [
• 32
]. 

Immature fruit and young shoots are used as a vegetables; the fruit is medicinal.

Source: [
• 34
]. 

SELECTED REFERENCE Marr, K. L., X. Y. Mei, and N. Bhattarai. 2004. Allozyme, morphological and nutritional analysis bearing on the domestication of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae). Econ. Bot. 58: 435–455.

Source: [
• 23
].