Taxon:  Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng.



Summary
Genus:
Momordica
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Tribe:
Momordiceae
Nomen number:
24521
Place of publication:
Syst. veg. 3:14.  1826
Verified:
05/28/2009 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
7 (1  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Muricia cochinchinensis Lour.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Momordica ovata Cogn.

No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  2. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
  4. Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
  5. Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
  6. Chuyen, H. V. et al. 2015. Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.): a rich source of bioactive compounds and its potential health benefits. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol. 50:567-577. DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.12721.
  7. 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):137-138.
  8. Decker-Walters, D. S. 1999. Cucurbit, Sanskrit, and the Indo-Aryas. Econ. Bot. 53:108.
  9. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1561.
  10. Facciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
  11. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  12. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  13. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  14. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  15. Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
  16. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
  17. Kattukunnel, J. J. & V. T. Antony. 2008. Momordica sahyadrica sp. nov. (Cucurbitaceae), an endemic species of Western Ghats of India. Nordic J. Bot. 24:539-542. Note: mentions
  18. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
  19. 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):358.
  20. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  21. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  22. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  23. 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.
  24. Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
  25. Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
  26. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbalsam-pear  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishChinese bitter-cucumber  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
EnglishChinese-cucumber  1Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
Englishgac  1Chuyen, H. V. et al. 2015. Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.): a rich source of bioactive compounds and its potential health benefits. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol. 50:567-577. DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.12721.
Englishgiant spine gourd  1Padua, 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):358.
Englishspiny bitter-cucumber  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Englishsweet gourd  1Padua, 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):358.
Assamesebhat karela  2Facciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
Frenchmuricie  2Padua, 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):358.
Germanindische Bittergurke  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1561.
Spanishcundeamor  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishtaggig bittergurka  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinesemu bie zi  2Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaAnhui Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaFujian Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaGuangdong Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaGuangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaGuizhou Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaHunan Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaJiangsu Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaJiangxi Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaSichuan Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaXizang Zizhiqu Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaYunnan Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaZhejiang Sheng Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1NativeAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaTaiwan  Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentBangladesh  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):137-138.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaAssam Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaNagaland Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaTamil Nadu Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaUttar Pradesh Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaWest Bengal Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaCambodia  Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaIndiaAndaman and Nicobar Islands Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaLaos  Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaMyanmar  Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaThailand  Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaVietnam  Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia  Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaMalaysia  Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaPhilippines  Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1NativeAsia-TropicalPapuasiaPapua New Guinea  Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaQueenslandn.George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateChinaChina s.Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapanRyukyu Islands Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
2CultivatedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  Kattukunnel, J. J. & V. T. Antony. 2008. Momordica sahyadrica sp. nov. (Cucurbitaceae), an endemic species of Western Ghats of India. Nordic J. Bot. 24:539-542. Note: mentions
2CultivatedAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaIndochina  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.
2CultivatedAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaThailand  Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
2CultivatedAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia  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.
2CultivatedAsia-TropicalMalesiaMalaysia  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.
Native
Asia-Temperate
  • CHINA: China [Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng]
  • EASTERN ASIA: Taiwan
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Bangladesh, India [Assam, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal]
  • PAPUASIA: Papua New Guinea
  • INDO-CHINA: India [Andaman and Nicobar Islands], Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
  • MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland (n.)]
Cultivated
Asia-Temperate
  • CHINA: China (s.)
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Ryukyu Islands]
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India
  • INDO-CHINA: Indochina, Thailand
  • MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia

Reference(s)
  1. Aubréville, A. et al., eds. 1960-. Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viet-Nam.
  2. Chakravarty, H. L. 1982. Cucurbitaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 11:92-93.
  3. Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
  4. 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):137-138.
  5. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  6. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  7. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
  8. Kattukunnel, J. J. & V. T. Antony. 2008. Momordica sahyadrica sp. nov. (Cucurbitaceae), an endemic species of Western Ghats of India. Nordic J. Bot. 24:539-542. Note: mentions
  9. 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.
  10. Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
  11. Steenis, C. G. G. J. van, ed. 1948-. Flora malesiana.
  12. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Food additivescoloring Chuyen, H. V. et al. 2015. Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.): a rich source of bioactive compounds and its potential health benefits. Int. J. Food Sci. Technol. 50:567-577. DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.12721.
Human foodvegetablepotentialSiemonsma, 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.
Human foodvegetablepotentialDecker-Walters, D. S. 1999. Cucurbit, Sanskrit, and the Indo-Aryas. Econ. Bot. 53:108.
Medicinesfolklore 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):358.
Medicinesfolklore Decker-Walters, D. S. 1999. Cucurbit, Sanskrit, and the Indo-Aryas. Econ. Bot. 53:108.
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Decker-Walters, D. S. 1999. Cucurbit, Sanskrit, and the Indo-Aryas. Econ. Bot. 53:108.
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=24521. Accessed 12 May 2026.