Bitter gourd, bitter cucumber or balsam pear
Family Cucurbitaceae
Momordica charantia, the bitter gourd, bitter cucumber or balsam pear (M. charantia 1), is a monoecious annual climber with an angled stem; palmately lobed leaves, and solitary yellow flowers, about 3 cm in diameter. The fruits are 15-25 cm long (M. charantia 3), ribbed and with numerous tubercles, turning yellow to orange when ripe.
Distribution
The bitter gourd is a native of the Old World and was taken to Brazil by the slave trade. Today it is widespread throughout the tropics.
Use
Young fruits (M. charantia 2) are used as a vegetable in India and the Far East. To reduce the bitterness, the peeled fruits are soaked in salt before cooking. The fruit is also used in Indian curries. Young leaves are eaten as spinach.