Balsam-apple (Momordica charantia, Sp. pl. 2:1009. 1753)

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 2:1009. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Momordica

Vegetable: True

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Old World to NE Queensland

Description

Balsam-apple, scientifically known as Momordica charantia, is a plant of significant interest within the Cucurbitaceae family. First documented in 1753 in “Species Plantarum” (volume 2, page 1009) by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus (often abbreviated as “L.”), this plant has a rich history and widespread presence in tropical and subtropical regions, specifically extending from the Old World to northeastern Queensland.

This vibrant and versatile twining plant is notable for its striking fruit, which resembles a small, wrinkled gourd. The fruit is initially green and gradually turns orange or yellow as it matures. Upon ripening, the fruit splits open to reveal numerous seeds encased in a bright red, fleshy coating. This unique lifecycle contributes to its ornamental appeal as well as its functional uses in various cultures.

In traditional medicine, Momordica charantia has been utilized for its wide-ranging therapeutic properties. Cultures across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean have used it to treat ailments such as diabetes, digestive issues, and infections, highlighting its importance beyond just its aesthetic value. Modern research continues to investigate its potential health benefits, particularly its role in regulating blood sugar levels.

Balsam-apple thrives in warm climates where it can receive ample sunlight and adequate rainfall, conditions typically found in tropical and subtropical environments. Its spread from the Old World to northern Queensland demonstrates its adaptability and resilience. The plant’s ability to grow in diverse environmental conditions makes it a subject of interest for botanists and horticulturists alike.

The plant can also be characterized by its distinctive lobed leaves and climbing habit, enabling it to cover trellises, fences, and other structures, creating a lush green tapestry interspersed with pops of yellow and red from its flowers and fruit. This climbing nature is a trait common to many members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons.

In summary, Momordica charantia, or Balsam-apple, is a plant of notable botanical, medicinal, and ornamental value. Rooted in a long history of usage and cultivation, it continues to be a subject of scientific interest and cultural significance across the regions it inhabits.

Common Names

Deu: balsambirne, bittergurke, amerikanische bittergurke
Eng: balsampear, balsam pear, balsam-apple, balsam-pear, bitter gourd, bitter-cucumber, bitter-melon, carilla gourd, bitter melon, lizzard food, lizzard pepper, maiden apple, maidenapple, snake apple bush, alsam pear
Spa: balsamito, bálsamo, cundeamor
Swe: bittergurka
Fra: concombre africain, margose, momordique, paroka
Por: melão-são-caetano
Ind: paria
Msa: peria
Run: umuichua
Khm: ម្រ៉ះ
En: Balsam-apple, Balsam-pear, Bitter gourd, Bitter-cucumber, Bitter-melon, Carilla gourd, Balsampear, African Cucumber, Balsam Pear, Bitter melon, Cerasee, Föria, Paya, करइली, Lizzard Food, Lizzard Pepper, Maiden Apple, Maidenapple, Snake Apple Bush, Alsam pear, Carilla bush, Jumbee pumpkin, Limestone Fern, Old maid, Wild caryla, Wilde sopropo, Wild balsam-apple
Ar: معضوضة كرمية الأوراق
As: তিতা কেৰেলা
Az: Qüdrət narı
Bm: Bangɛyɛ
Eu: Meloi mikatz
Bn: করলা
My: ကြက်ဟင်းခါးသီး
Zh: Ku gua, 苦瓜
Da: Bitteragurk
Nl: Sopropo
Eo: Momordiko
Et: Karella-kibekurk
Fi: Karvaskurkku
Fr: Margose, Momordique, Concombre africain, Paroka, Pomme-coolie, Pomme-merveille, Sorossi, Sérossi, Margoze
De: Bittergurke, Balsambirne, Amerikanische Bittergurke, Bittermelone
Gu: કારેલું
Ht: Asosi
He: מלון מר
Hi: करेला
Hu: Balzsamkörte
Id: Paria, Peria
Jv: Paré
Kn: ಹಾಗಲಕಾಯಿ
Km: ម្រ៉ះ
Ky: Момордика харанция
Rn: Umuichua
Ko: Yeoju, 여주
Ku: Gulxenderan
Lv: Balzambumbieris
Lt: Raukšlėtasis svaidenis
Mk: Горчлива диња
Ms: Peria, Peria katak
Ml: പാവല്‍
Mr: कारले
Ne: तीते करेला
Or: କଲରା
Pa: ਕਰੇਲਾ
Fa: خیار چنبر تلخ
Pl: Przepękla ogórkowata
Pt: Melão-de-são-caetano gigante, Melão-de-são-caetano, Erva-de-lavadeira, Erva-de-são-caetano, Erva-de-são-vicente, Fruto-de-cobra, Fruto-de-negro, Melãozinho(3), Melão são caetano, Melão-são-caetano, Melão de São Caetano, Melao de St Caetano
Ru: Момордика харанция
Sa: कारवेल्लम्
Sr: Gorka dinja
Sd: ڪريلو
Es: Bálsamo, Balsamito, Cundeamor, Melón amargo, Balsamina
Su: Paria
Sv: Bittergurka
Tl: Ampalaya
Zh-tw: 苦瓜
Ta: பாகல்
Te: కాకర
Th: มะระ
Bo: ཁ་ཀུབ།
Tr: Kudret narı
Uk: Китайський гіркий гарбуз
Ur: کریلا
Vi: Mướp đắng
Wo: Mbërbóof
Yo: Ejirin weere
Za: Lwghaemz

Synonyms

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• Christmas I. (native)
• Congo (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Fiji (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Mali (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Society Is. (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Tonga (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central American Pac (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Feb 22, 2017 by Guy Van Laere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Anziz AHMED ABDOU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2015 by EOL − Bernabe Alejandro Uc Dzul (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 13, 2020 by Jean-Marie Tognola (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2018 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 9, 2021 by Benda Pat (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2019 by Laure Willhelm (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2021 by Frederick Henderson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 24, 2021 by kouame amonh (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 15, 2017 by Mirana Gauche (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 8, 2022 by Patrick Laud (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 2020 by dos santos Willian bentes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2021 by Nascimento João (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2020 by Emmanuel Tchopwe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 5, 2017 by Christian Sanchez (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Sep 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 1, 2019 by Laure Willhelm (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2021 by Lu to (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 15, 2017 by Mirana Gauche (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Dec 2, 2020 by Leal Jana (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2021 by Jesus José Onaldo de Jesus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2020 by Salahaudin Maili (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 19, 2022 by Davi Pierini (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2020 by Lynette Lemay (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 6, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Sénégal ENGOUEMENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2011 by EOL − Andres Hernandez (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 8, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2874581)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:293413-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Momordica charantia L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Vine, Forb/herb

Growth