Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Seeds - spice, Flowers, Vegetable
A pumpkin family plant. It is a slender annual climber with flowers of both sexes on the one plant. It has simple tendrils and vines can be 4 m long. It has bright green lobed leaves. The leaves are 5 to 12 cm long on thin leaf stalks 3-10 cm long. The flowers have 5 petals, are small, yellow and with a sweet smell. Fruit are green when young and orange when ripe. The fruit have a lumpy appearance, with ridges along its length and when fully ripe burst open. It has bright red covering on the seeds inside. The seeds are 10-16 mm long and 7 to 10 mm wide and pale brown. Considerable variation in the fruit occurs between varieties.
A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to about 500 m and will probably grow to 1000 m altitude in tropical regions. They require a well drained soil preferably rich in organic matter. Seeds do not germinate below 15°C. Plants grow best with temperatures between 18°C and 35°C. In Nepal it grows to about 2100 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. A soil pH of 6.5 is best. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Bitter cucumber, Ampalaya, Ampalayang ligaw, Andaimi, Armagosa, Atap, Atmagosu, Bak phak sai, Balsam pear, Balsamina, Balsambirne, Balsamo, Banana-rato, Bitter gourd, Burboqui, Camatom, Carilla fruit, Caryla, Chang kha, Combre amer, Cosselaha, Cundeamor, Daun paria, Dimbunzu, Ejinrin, Fu kwa, Gala, Goya, Habit kangkoroiso, Hagal, Haix s'aix, Hkaw-hka, Iliero, Jumbee, Kagai chi, Kaippa, Kaippavalli, Karela, Kareli, Kari, Kariwila, Karle, Kerala, Karola, Khechak kerela, Khenao, Khoqua, Kirla, Korola, Ku gua, Ku gwa, Kuruvithalai paakakai, Kyet-hin-khar, Kyet-hun-kha-thi, Lubavhe, Lugulusekene, Lu kinto, Ma-hary-khan, Ma-hoi, Maha, Mambuzu, Mara, Mara khee nok, Mbee, Melon de raton, Mreahs, Muop dang, Naere, Niga uri, Nngutshiphaswi, Orobodo, Pakal, Pak sai, Palia, Palya, Pare, Paria, Paria-paria liar, Pariyo, Parya-bakir simaron, Pavakka, Pavatkai, Peria, Periok, Phakha, Phak sai, Poiyoi, Pomo meraviglia, Sancactano, Sorosi, Sushavi, Tangkha, Tasplira, Tita karela, Titakoralashak, Tshibavhe, Twasplira
Synonyms:
Momordica charantia subsp. abbreviata (Ser.) Greb.;
Momordica chinensis Spreng.;
Momordica elegans Salisb.;
Momordica indica L.;
Momordica muricata DC.;
Momordica operculata Vell.;
Momordica sinensis Spreng.;
Cucumis africanus Lindley;
Cucumis argyi H. Lev.;
Sicyos fauriei H. Lev.;