Balsampear
Momordica charantia
- Native to:
- Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Christmas I., Congo, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Socotra, Solomon Is., South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Salil Kumar Mukherjee
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus:
- Momordica
- Species:
- Momordica charantia
- USDA Symbol:
- MOCH2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
cucumber moth (Diaphania indica-complex), Eggplant Webworm Moth (Rhectocraspeda periusalis), pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis), Pyrausta sp., stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in warm, humid tropical climates
Propagation & Germination
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Scarify seed coat before sowing; germinates readily in warm soil.
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires scarification. | Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.