Taxon:  Momordica balsamina L.



Summary
Genus:
Momordica
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Tribe:
Momordiceae
Nomen number:
24519
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 2:1009.  1753
Verified:
05/28/2009 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
18 (13  active, 1  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
  2. Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
  3. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  4. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  5. Boudet, G. et al. 1986. Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali
  6. Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
  7. Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
  8. Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:88-89.
  9. Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
  10. De Wilde, W. J. J. O. & B. E. E. Duyfjes. 2002. Synopsis of Momordica (Cucurbitaceae) in SE Asia and Malesia. Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 87(3):134.
  11. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  12. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1561.
  13. Everest, S. L. 1981. Poisonous plants of Australia. Note: poisonous
  14. Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
  15. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  16. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
  17. Hamid, S. et al. 1995. Medicinal plants of family Cucurbitaceae of Pakistan (part II). Hamdard 38:91.
  18. Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
  19. Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
  20. Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
  21. Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
  22. Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
  23. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  24. León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
  25. Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
  26. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
  27. McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: mentions
  28. Miller, A. G. & M. Morris. 2004. Ethnoflora of the Soqotra Archipelago.
  29. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  30. Pammel, L. H. 1911. Manual of poisonous plants. Note: poisonous
  31. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  32. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  33. Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia.
  34. Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
  35. Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
  36. Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbalsam-apple  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Frenchpomme de merveille  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanBalsamapfel  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguesebalsâmina-de-purga  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishbalsamina  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishbalsamgurka  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Urdu (Pakistan)jangli karela  2Hamid, S. et al. 1995. Medicinal plants of family Cucurbitaceae of Pakistan (part II). Hamdard 38:91.
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaEast Tropical AfricaTanzania  Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1NativeAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaYemenArkhabīl SuquţráextirpatedMiller, A. G. & M. Morris. 2004. Ethnoflora of the Soqotra Archipelago.
1NativeAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaAngola  Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1NativeAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaMozambique  Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1NativeAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaZambia  Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1NativeAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaZimbabwe  Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaBotswana  Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaEswatini  Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaNamibia  Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaCape Province Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaFree State Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaKwaZulu-Natal Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaTransvaal Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaWest Tropical AfricaMali  Boudet, G. et al. 1986. Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali
1NativeAfricaWest Tropical AfricaNigeria  Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1NativeAfricaWest Tropical AfricaSenegal  Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1NativeAsia-TemperateArabian PeninsulaYemen  Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaMaharashtra Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:88-89.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaPunjab Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:88-89.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaRajasthan Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:88-89.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaUttar Pradesh Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:88-89.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentNepal  Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaNew South Wales George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaNorthern Territory George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaQueensland George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaSouth Australia George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaWestern Australia George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
2CultivatedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanGuadeloupe  Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2CultivatedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanMartinique  Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSouth-Central U.S.A.United StatesTexase. & s.Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSoutheastern U.S.A.United StatesFlorida Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSoutheastern U.S.A.United StatesLouisiana Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanCuba  León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanDominican Republic  Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanHaiti  Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanJamaica  Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaPeru  Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
Native
Africa
  • NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Yemen [Arkhabīl Suquţrá (extirpated)]
  • EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Tanzania
  • WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Mali, Nigeria, Senegal
  • SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA: Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa [Cape Province, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal]
Asia-Temperate
  • ARABIAN PENINSULA: Yemen
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India [Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh], Nepal, Pakistan
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia [New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory]
Cultivated
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: Guadeloupe, Martinique
Naturalized
Northern America
  • SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida, Louisiana]
  • SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas (e. & s.)]
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica
  • WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Peru

Reference(s)
  1. Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
  2. Boudet, G. et al. 1986. Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali
  3. Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
  4. Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:88-89.
  5. Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
  6. Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
  7. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  8. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
  9. Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
  10. Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
  11. Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
  12. León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
  13. Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
  14. Miller, A. G. & M. Morris. 2004. Ethnoflora of the Soqotra Archipelago.
  15. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  16. Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
  17. Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
  18. Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Medicinesfolklorefor woundsHamid, S. et al. 1995. Medicinal plants of family Cucurbitaceae of Pakistan (part II). Hamdard 38:91.
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Pammel, L. H. 1911. Manual of poisonous plants. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Everest, S. L. 1981. Poisonous plants of Australia. Note: poisonous
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=24519. Accessed 12 May 2026.