OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Cucurbitales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/8/20):
Momordica charantia ssp. charantia   FAMILY Cucurbitaceae   Go to FSUS key


INCLUDED WITHIN PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Momordica charantia   FAMILY Cucurbitaceae

 

COMMON NAME:
Balsam-pear, Balsam-apple, Bitter Melon


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Momordica charantia ssp. charantia, Balsam-pear, Balsam-apple, Bitter Melon

Patrick D. McMillan    pdmmcharantia_sebring1

June    Polk County    FL

Leaf blade suborbiculate-orbiculate, deeply palmately 5-7 lobed, base cordate, per Flora of North America.

image of Momordica charantia ssp. charantia, Balsam-pear, Balsam-apple, Bitter Melon

Patrick D. McMillan    pdmmcharantia_sebring1b

June    Polk County    FL

The five petals bright yellow, obovate to oblong-obovate, per Flora of North America.

image of Momordica charantia ssp. charantia, Balsam-pear, Balsam-apple, Bitter Melon

Patrick D. McMillan    pdmmcharantia_sebring4

June    Polk County    FL

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/8/20):
Momordica charantia ssp. charantia   FAMILY Cucurbitaceae

INCLUDED WITHIN PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Momordica charantia   FAMILY Cucurbitaceae

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

2702

Climbing herbaceous vine (with tendrils)
Annual
Monoecious

Habitat: Disturbed areas, roadsides, fence-rows, per Weakley's Flora

Non-native: Africa

map
Click here to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)

LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Yellow
Unisexual
Slightly bilaterally symmetrical
5-lobed rotate or broadly campanulate corolla
3 stamens (rarely 2)
Inferior ovary

FRUIT:
Berry

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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