img

Momordica charantia

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Momordica

‘aiakamanu (Ni‘ihau via St. John), balsam pear, bitter melon, palea (Ni‘ihau via St. John)

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Monoecious annual herbs.

Stems: Stems up to several m long, pubescent or glabrate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades broadly ovate in outline with a basal sinus, 4–10 cm long, 4–8 cm wide, deeply 5–lobed, the lobes ovate. Apex acute. Margins dentate or lobulate. Petioles 3–5 cm long. Stipules absent; tendrils in the stipular position unbranched.

Flowers: Flowers in staminate flowers on stalks 4–80 mm long, bracteate below the middle, bracts green, suborbicular, mucronate, 3–20 mm long; pistillate flowers on stalks 2–70 mm long, bracteate as in staminate flowers. Flowers usually unisexual (and the plants monoecious or dioecious), actinomorphic. Calyx of staminate flowers 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate, 4–6 mm long; sepals inserted on hypanthium. Corolla of staminate flowers with 5 petals, yellow, obovate to spatulate, 10–12 mm long; inserted on hypanthium alternate with calyx lobes, usually connate at base, the limb often rotate. Staminate flowers: Stamens usually 3, inserted toward base of hypanthium; filaments distinct, broad; anthers distinct or coherent, 2 of them dithecal, the other monothecal, cells curved or flexuous; pistillate flowers: staminodes absent or 3; anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, of a single carpel or 3-carpellate with carpels connate into a single 3-lobed cell; ovules numerous, placentation parietal; stigmas 3, 2-lobed, papillate. Staminate flowers usually solitary on a bracteate scape.

Fruit: Fruit orangish red; ovoid to ellipsoid; attenuate; 3–12 cm long (in wild plants); longitudinally ridged; warty; or with subconical spines; dehiscing irregularly as a 3–valved fleshy capsules with seeds encased in red pulp. Seeds pale brown; 8–16 mm long; margins undulate; the surface granular; endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 11; 22

Habitat: Widely naturalized in disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: 0–300 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Not in flora
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 1009 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:572 (Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H); Starr & Martz 2000:10 (Mi); Staples & Herbst 2005:262 (KEY), 268 (DESCR); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:168 (remove Ka [no evidence of nat.]); Holthuijzen 2017 (Mi†, 2008)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Momordica charantia Road from Ewa Beach Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1956-06-04
2 Momordica charantia Halenanahu Stream Preserved_Specimen Kauai BISH 1926-06-12
3 Momordica charantia unknown Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 2673 BISH
4 Momordica charantia Laie Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10493 Oahu BISH 1930-04-20
5 Momordica charantia Lihue Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 482 Kauai BISH 1916-10-04
6 Momordica charantia Kaa Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 9 Lanai BISH 1952-02-26
7 Momordica charantia Makakilo Gulch Growing together with Kiawe and mixed grasses. Preserved_Specimen Leu, M. 62 Oahu BISH 1987-12-04
8 Momordica charantia Kipukai above beach Preserved_Specimen spreading over ground Alexander, A.M. 5341 Kauai BISH 1948-05-03
9 Momordica charantia Windward side of island, Anapuhi to Wainene Long coastal boulder-strewn beach with vertical cliff at back 10-30 m from water. Cliff with Artemisia australis, Chenopodium oahuense, Schiedea globosa, Kalanchoe pinnata, Tetramolopium sylvae, Lythrum maritimum & Hedyotis littoralis, among others. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5753 Molokai BISH 1987-08-01
10 Momordica charantia BYU-H sewage plant Loam soil on a flat slope. Preserved_Specimen A slender, graceful, climbing twiner. Leaves orbicular in outline, 3 to 5 lobed. Ouite generally distributed. Tiu, C. 34 Oahu BISH 1975-03-03
11 Momordica charantia Waimea District. Polihale State Park, off Lower Saki Mana Road, Camping Area 4 next to restrooms Coastal Strand With Leucaena leucocephala, Scaevola taccada, Prosopis pallida, Megathyrsus maximus, Cenchrus, Stachytarpheta. Preserved_Specimen Vine, new foliage light green. Flowers light yellow, staminal column apex dark yellow. Fruit light orange, soft, spiny, pungent smell, splitting along sides at top and bottom. Seed tan with bright red aril. Tangalin, N. 3730 Kauai BISH 2014-03-14
12 Momordica charantia Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Plants collected along coastal and inland trail. Preserved_Specimen Predominantly exotic vegetation. Higashino, P.K. 10217 Hawaii BISH 1984-04-07
13 Momordica charantia East Maui, road around base of Haleakala Trailing, on rocky lava strata. Preserved_Specimen Wilson, K.A. 86 Maui BISH 1951-11-26
14 Momordica charantia Wailua, Side of Hwy 580. Pass the University of Hawaii Wailua Experiment Station fence along the road. Across from the Wailua Reservior growing on an old fence Early D Secondary vegetation with Cinnamomum verum, Schefflera arboricola, S. actinophylla, Ficus, Chrysophyllum oliviforme, Casuarina sp., Albizia falcataria, Spathodea campanulata, Clidemia hirta, Psidium guajava, Panicum maxim Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Fruits orange spiny. Lvs. w/ smell, med-green Tangalin, N. 1281 Kauai BISH 2007-05-24
15 Momordica charantia Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, Ahihi Bay at the N end of the reserve Pockets of vegetation near the seashore amongst a'a lava about 200 years old. Preserved_Specimen In flower and fruit. Abbott, I.A. 91.5 Maui BISH 1991-03-05
16 Momordica charantia Honolulu District, Koko Head Edges of Marsilea villosa population, Ihiihilauakea Crater Preserved_Specimen Bruegmann, M.M. 148 Oahu BISH 1984-02-18
17 Momordica charantia Paniau, 1 mile S of Grassy range land Preserved_Specimen Weed, flower white St.John, H. 23604 Niihau BISH 1949-03-30
18 Momordica charantia Kipukai above beach Preserved_Specimen spreading over ground Alexander, A.M. 5341 Kauai BISH 1948-05-03
19 Momordica charantia BYU-HC Slope- flat. Soil- Loam. Preserved_Specimen Leaves orbicular in outline, 3-5 lobed. Corolla about 1 in. across, light yellow. Lee, P. 30 Oahu BISH 1975-03-21
20 Momordica charantia Along road leading to Kaluanui Valley Near old sugar cane field. Preserved_Specimen Weed. Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-03-21
21 Momordica charantia 1.4 mi from Waikoloa substation along powerline On `a`a flow. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4722 Hawaii BISH 1982-11-20
22 Momordica charantia Lihue, Puhi Camp just W of Kauai Community College from homesites when camp was razed Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellow. Fruit orange with scarlet pulp Flynn, T.W. 2000 Kauai BISH 1986-12-05
23 Momordica charantia North Halawa; Site B-86 Deep shade under Kukui; noni and monkeypod trees. Preserved_Specimen Vine growing on the ground and over rocks; length about 2 m. Flowers yellow, open during the day. Not yet in fruit. Only plant of its kind. McConnell, K. Oahu BISH 1991-11-27
24 Momordica charantia East Maui, Hana District, Coastal pasture lands SE of Kauiki from Kaihalulu Bay to Ka Iwi O Pele Delicate vine in Mo'omo'oiki Gulch. Preserved_Specimen Corolla bright yellow. Flynn, T.W. 2538 Maui BISH 1987-10-22
25 Momordica charantia Coast just north of Olowalu. in edges of thickets, flat ground at mouth of gully. Preserved_Specimen Common. Slender vine, flowers yellow Fosberg, F.R. 55699 Maui BISH 1975-03-16
26 Momordica charantia Kaamooloa, Wailua Vine found on silty loam soil on a 5 degree slope. Preserved_Specimen Three lobed leaves, yellow flowers, orange fruit. Afualo, D. 145 Oahu BISH 1975-03-25
27 Momordica charantia Kalaupapa Trail Vine in Aleurites grove near trail. Preserved_Specimen Buds whitish. St.John, H. 25228 Molokai BISH 1953-12-25
28 Momordica charantia E of Kamehameha Hwy., Waipio abandoned pineapple field Preserved_Specimen naturalized vine Herbst, D.R. 698 Oahu BISH 1967-11-09
29 Momordica charantia Laie, Oahu Slope- 30%; Soil- Volcanic-Clay; Preserved_Specimen Shrubs, herbs, greasses. Vine, sparse. Flowers yellow, eaten by Phillipinos. Beckham, N. 74 Oahu BISH 1967-04-22
30 Momordica charantia Back of BYU-H campus Clay/ sand flat slope. Pastures, wasteland. Preserved_Specimen Vine, annual, small yellow flowers. Ziegelbauer, K. 50 Oahu BISH 1975-04-04
31 Momordica charantia West of Kekaha beach, along the road with buffel grass, koa haole, Verbesina encelioides and aalii Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 920023 Kauai BISH 1992-04-13
32 Momordica charantia E of Kamehameha Hwy., Waipio abandoned pineapple field Preserved_Specimen A slender, herbaceous vine covering ground & shrubs. Fl = yellow; fr = orange, tuberculate (splitting into 3 sections); bursting, when mature to reveal bright red pulp covering the seeds. Herbst, D.R. 698 Oahu BISH 1967-11-09
33 Momordica charantia South Kona, Kapua Bay and surrounding areas In the ahupuaa of Kapua. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 6546 Hawaii BISH 1977-07-01
34 Momordica charantia Kalamaula, Molokai Climing in cactus. Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 125 Molokai BISH 1927-06-23
35 Momordica charantia Nualolo Kai, Waimea abundant in thickets Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 26664 Kauai BISH 1965-04-22
36 Momordica charantia East Maui, 2.7 mi E. of 'Ulupalakua Ranch on Piilani Hwy (Hwy 31) Growing on `a`a lava flow dominated by Wikstroemia, Reynoldsia, Leucaena, Lantana, and Myoporum (occasional). Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4778 Maui BISH 1983-01-14
37 Momordica charantia Kaalualu Bay near South Point Common. Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellowish, fruits orange. A vine climbing over vegetation or trailing across the ground. Whistler, W.A. 44 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
38 Momordica charantia Kapaa, farmer's market Preserved_Specimen Stem dark green, somewhat glossy. Leaf opens yellowish-green, becoming darker with age. Tendrils whitish green. Flower with corolla 1.5 cm wide, 5 yellow petals crystalline with green tints on veins; stigmas yellow. Fetid when crushed. Hume, L. 482 Kauai BISH 1990-02-28
39 Momordica charantia Settlement Trail Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 46 Molokai BISH 1912-06-01
40 Momordica charantia Kiei Islet Rare. Preserved_Specimen A couple small plants and seedlings. Starr, F. 6040619 Lanai BISH 2006-04-06
41 Momordica charantia Honolulu, Salt Lake Boulevard at Liliuokalani Gardens Fairly dry roadside shrubbery. Preserved_Specimen Climbing over the shrubs up to a height of 2.5 m. Mäkinen, L. 669 Oahu BISH 1966-01-02
42 Momordica charantia HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: MAUI: Kahului, near airport. OBSERVATION Curtis Daehler Maui HAPI 3/25/2007
43 Momordica charantia Abandoned pineapple field in Waipio Preserved_Specimen A slender, herbaceous vine growing over ground and shrubs. Flowers yellow. Herbst, D.R. 698 Oahu BISH 1967-11-09
44 Momordica charantia Nonopapa Preserved_Specimen Flower yellow, fruit orange St.John, H. 22760 Niihau BISH 1947-08-13
45 Momordica charantia Kalaupapa; coast, E of lighthouse Preserved_Specimen monoecious annual herb Wysong, M.L. 454 Molokai BISH 2004-11-18
46 Momordica charantia Waipahu Cultural Gardens, 94-695 Waipahu St Preserved_Specimen A vine, possibly naturalized, densely smothering a structure. Flowers lemon yellow; odorless (morning). Lau, J. 2114 Oahu BISH 1986-03-10
47 Momordica charantia Polihale Beach Dune area Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1977-09-24
48 Momordica charantia Waianae Mts., Kupehau Gulch Preserved_Specimen Fr. bright-orange, seeds red Cowan, R.S. 157 Oahu BISH 1946-10-13
49 Momordica charantia Kahuku, in waste pineapple fields Preserved_Specimen Fruit orange outside, scarlet within Neal, M.C. 894 Oahu BISH 1936-11-25
50 Momordica charantia Along the trail into Dillingham Field wetland Found growing on Amaranthus spinosus, Bidens pilosa, Hyptis, koa haole, and other shrubby weeds and grasses. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 1103 Oahu BISH 1990-05-08
51 Momordica charantia junction of 2 roads to Kokee Preserved_Specimen Carr, G.D. 909 Kauai BISH 1976-04-16
52 Momordica charantia Diamond Head Community Garden located in Honolulu near the base of Diamond Head on Leahi Street Preserved_Specimen The plant was a vine about five feet tall growing on a trellis. Mayeda, C.S. 12 Oahu BISH 1990-12-07
53 Momordica charantia Kalihi, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Faurie, A. 877 Oahu BISH 1909-10-01
54 Momordica charantia Waianae Mts., at Palehua Road. 21.4 N 158.1W Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 611029071 Oahu BISH 1961-10-29
55 Momordica charantia Kapua Bay Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 10141 Hawaii BISH 1983-12-17
56 Momordica charantia Waianae, Waianaeuka, Oahu. Jus above beach Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 64 Oahu BISH 1930-12-10
57 Momordica charantia Mahaulepu. Along the edge of the canefields behind the west end of Mahaulepu beach Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 727 Kauai BISH 1984-01-05
58 Momordica charantia Barbers Point Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37283 Oahu BISH 1937-08-11
59 Momordica charantia [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; O`ahu; Hawai`i; Honolulu] Preserved_Specimen Suehiro, A. Oahu BISH 1948-06-27
60 Momordica charantia Kipapa Preserved_Specimen Cameron, C.E.R. Oahu BISH 1944-08-04
61 Momordica charantia Kailua, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Meebold, A. Hawaii BISH 1932-05-01
62 Momordica charantia Ewa. Pohakupuna Rd Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. Oahu BISH 1957-02-03
Back to Top