 |
|
| Author:
|
Carl Linnaeus 1753 |
| Family: |
Cucurbitaceae |
| Habitat: |
Namibia, Botswana,
Swaziland, South Africa, Zanzibar, Asia, Arabia, India, Australia |
| Soil: |
Mix |
| Water:
|
Medium |
| Sun: |
Maximum |
| Thickness: |
4
centimetres |
| Height: |
50 centimetres (5
meters) |
| Flower:
|
White - Yellow |
| Reproduction: |
Seeds/Cuttings |
| Pop names:
|
Bitter Melon, Balsam
Apple |
| Synonyms: |
Momordica
involucrata E. Meyer ex Sonder. Momordica schinzii
Cogn. |
|
|
Male flower.
 |
|
This member of the Cucurbitaceae family
was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is found in from central
tropical Africa through Namibia,
Botswana, Swaziland and all the provinces of South Africa (except
the Western Cape), Asia, Arabia, India and Australia. It grows in a
well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The vines will
grow up to five meters long. The flowers from white to yellow with two
almost black spots.
The name comes from Mordio: "To
bite" after the bitten appearance. balsamina from Latin:
balsamum refering to one of it's medical uses. |
|
Female flower.
 |
|
