Taxon: Momordica charantia L.

Summary

Genus:

Momordica

Family:

Cucurbitaceae

Tribe:

Momordiceae

Nomen number:

24520

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 2:1009. 1753

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

05/28/2009 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

104 (24 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Momordica charantia L. subsp. charantia (0 active accession[s])
Momordica charantia L. subsp. macroloba Ach.-Dako & Blattner (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviata Ser.
Momordica muricata Willd.
Momordica zeylanica Mill.

Images (2 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
PROTABASE, the information base of PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) (on-line resource).
Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581.
Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1963-. Flore du Cameroun.
Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
Berhaut, J. 1971-. Flore illustrée du Senegal.
Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
Carrisso, L. W. et al., eds. 1937-. Conspectus florae angolensis.
Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:89-92.
Chakravarty, H. L. 1990. Cucurbits of India and their role in the development of vegetable crops. In: Bates, D. M. et al., Biology and utilization of the Cucurbitaceae 329.
Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
Correa, J. E. & H. Y. Bernal. 1991. Especies vegetales promisorias de los paises del Convenio Andres Bello. 6:291-309.
Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago.
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
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):135.
Dubs, B. 1998. Prodromus florae matogrossensis. Botany of Mato Grosso, series B, no. 3.
Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1561.
Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
Hamid, S. et al. 1995. Medicinal plants of family Cucurbitaceae of Pakistan (part II). Hamdard 38:93.
Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds
Holm, L. et al. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 478.
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
Humbert, J.-H., ed. 1936-. Flore de Madagascar et des Comores.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
Jardin botanique national de Belgique. 1967-. Flore du Congo, du Rwanda et du Burundi (Flore d'Afrique centrale).
Jeffrey, C. 1980. The Cucurbitaceae of Eastern Asia
Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez, eds. 1999. Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 75
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
Lasser, T., ed. 1964-. Flora de Venezuela.
Lee, Y. N. 1997. Flora of Korea.
León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
Mun-Chan, B. et al. 1986. A checklist of the Korean cultivated plants. Kulturpflanze 34:110.
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):357.
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI.
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Siemonsma, J. S. & Kasem Piluek, eds. 1993. Vegetables. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 8:206-210.
Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
Steyermark, J. A. et al., eds. 1995-. Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Note: Missouri Botanical Garden & Timber Press
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Uphof, J. C. T. 1968. Dictionary of economic plants, ed. 2.
Vibrans, H., ed. Malezas de México (on-line resource).
Wagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
Watson, J. F. 1868. Index to the native and scientific names of Indian and other eastern economic plants and products
Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	balsam-apple	1	Holm, L. et al. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 478.
English	balsam-pear	1	Uphof, J. C. T. 1968. Dictionary of economic plants, ed. 2.
English	bitter gourd	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	bitter-cucumber	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	bitter-melon	1	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
English	carilla gourd	1	Chakravarty, H. L. 1990. Cucurbits of India and their role in the development of vegetable crops. In: Bates, D. M. et al., Biology and utilization of the Cucurbitaceae 329.
French	concombre africain	2	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
French	margose	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French	momordique	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French	paroka	2	Siemonsma, J. S. & Kasem Piluek, eds. 1993. Vegetables. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 8:206-210.
German	amerikanische Bittergurke	2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1561.
German	Balsambirne	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	Bittergurke	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
India	karela	2	Watson, J. F. 1868. Index to the native and scientific names of Indian and other eastern economic plants and products
Indonesian	paria	2	Siemonsma, J. S. & Kasem Piluek, eds. 1993. Vegetables. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 8:206-210.
Malay	peria	2	Siemonsma, J. S. & Kasem Piluek, eds. 1993. Vegetables. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 8:206-210.
Spanish	balsamito	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	bálsamo	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	cundeamor	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedish	bittergurka	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinese	ku gua	2	Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
Transcribed Korean	yeoju	2	Lee, Y. N. 1997. Flora of Korea.

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Uganda			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Angola			Berhaut, J. 1971-. Flore illustrée du Senegal.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Malawi			Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Mozambique			Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zambia			Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zimbabwe			Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Benin			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Côte D'Ivoire			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Gambia			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Liberia			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Mali			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Nigeria			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Sierra Leone			Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Burundi			Jardin botanique national de Belgique. 1967-. Flore du Congo, du Rwanda et du Burundi (Flore d'Afrique centrale).
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Cameroon			Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1963-. Flore du Cameroun.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Democratic Republic of the Congo			Jardin botanique national de Belgique. 1967-. Flore du Congo, du Rwanda et du Burundi (Flore d'Afrique centrale).
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Gabon			Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Rwanda			Jardin botanique national de Belgique. 1967-. Flore du Congo, du Rwanda et du Burundi (Flore d'Afrique centrale).
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar			Humbert, J.-H., ed. 1936-. Flore de Madagascar et des Comores.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:89-92.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Nepal			Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan			Wagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Sri Lanka			Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Cambodia			Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand			Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam			Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia			Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):357.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia			Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):357.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines			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):135.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Papuasia	Papua New Guinea			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):135.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland		George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1	Native	Pacific	South-Central Pacific	French Polynesia			Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	Fiji			Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
2	Cultivated					widely cult.
4	Naturalized	Northern America		Mexico			McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
4	Naturalized	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas	s.e.	Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
4	Naturalized	Pacific	North-Central Pacific	United States	Hawaii		Wagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil			Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas			Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Barbados			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Cayman Islands			Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba			León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominican Republic			Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Guadeloupe			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Haiti			Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica			Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Montserrat			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Netherlands Antilles			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Kitts and Nevis			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Lucia			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Vincent and Grenadines			Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico		Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Virgin Islands, U.S.		Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Caribbean	Virgin Islands (British)			Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	Belize			Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	El Salvador			Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala			Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua			Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Central America	Panama			Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Northern South America	French Guiana			Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Northern South America	Guyana			Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Northern South America	Suriname			Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela			Lasser, T., ed. 1964-. Flora de Venezuela.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina			Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Southern South America	Paraguay			Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Western South America	Bolivia			Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Western South America	Ecuador			Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez, eds. 1999. Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 75
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Western South America	Peru			Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45

Native
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Rwanda
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Benin, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan
PAPUASIA: Papua New Guinea
INDO-CHINA: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland]

Pacific

SOUTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: French Polynesia
SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Fiji

Cultivated (widely cult.)
Naturalized
Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida, Louisiana]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas (s.e.)]
REGION: Mexico

Pacific

NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Netherlands Antilles, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, United States [Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S.], St. Vincent and Grenadines, Virgin Islands (British)
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
BRAZIL: Brazil
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru
SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Paraguay

Reference(s)

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581.
Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1963-. Flore du Cameroun.
Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
Berhaut, J. 1971-. Flore illustrée du Senegal.
Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:89-92.
Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago.
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
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):135.
Exell, A. W. et al., eds. 1960-. Flora zambesiaca.
Funk, V. et al. 2007. Checklist of the plants of the Guiana Shield (Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro; Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana). Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 55:1-584.
George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
Humbert, J.-H., ed. 1936-. Flore de Madagascar et des Comores.
Jardin botanique national de Belgique. 1967-. Flore du Congo, du Rwanda et du Burundi (Flore d'Afrique centrale).
Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez, eds. 1999. Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 75
Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
Lasser, T., ed. 1964-. Flora de Venezuela.
León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):357.
Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI.
Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Wagner, W. L. et al. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i
Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Harmful organism host	crop diseases		Holm, L. et al. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 478.
Harmful organism host	crop pests		Holm, L. et al. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 478.
Human food	vegetable		Hamid, S. et al. 1995. Medicinal plants of family Cucurbitaceae of Pakistan (part II). Hamdard 38:93.
Human food	vegetable	fruits eaten or pickled when young	Chakravarty, H. L. 1990. Cucurbits of India and their role in the development of vegetable crops. In: Bates, D. M. et al., Biology and utilization of the Cucurbitaceae 329.
Medicines	folklore		Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):357.
Medicines	folklore		Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicines	folklore		Hamid, S. et al. 1995. Medicinal plants of family Cucurbitaceae of Pakistan (part II). Hamdard 38:93.
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
Weed	seed contaminant	potential	CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope

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=24520. Accessed 17 April 2026.