Balsam apple, Apple Balsam
Momordica balsamina

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is a herb or vine. It can grow each year from seed or keep growing from year to year. The leaves have stalks. These are 1-5 cm long. The leaves are 4-7.5 cm across by 4-7 cm wide. They are round or with 3-5 lobes like fingers on a hand. The lobes are narrowly sword shaped. They have dots on both surfaces. The flowers are yellow. The flowers are separately male and female on the same plant. The fruit are oval but narrowed towards both ends. They are smooth or warty. They are smaller than Momordica charantia.

There are about 45-50 Momordica species. The fruits are cathartic due to momordicin.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It is usually on sandy soils near rivers. In Nepal plants grow to about 600 m altitude. In Africa it grows in drier places. It grows from sea level to 1,600 m altitude in Africa. In Pakistan it grows to 300 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young fruit are cooked as a vegetable. They are boiled or fried. They are also eaten raw. They are used in stews and pickled. Caution: The ripe fruit cause diarrhoea. They are used as a flavouring. The young leaves and tendrils are used as a potherb. The seeds are eaten after steeping in salt water and cooking. Without treatment they are poisonous.

Fruit are sold in markets. It is a commonly used leaf in Mozambique.

Edible parts

Fruits, leaves, seeds, roots, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or tubers. It climbs over fences and huts.

In Rajasthan in India it produces between August to October.

Its other names

Local names

African cucumber, Aloentjie, Bankarela, Barela, Chuchey karela, Garahuni, Inkaka, Inkhakha, Kakora, Lukake, Marmarndja, Mcaca, Mmampimpinyane, Mohodu, Mokha, Montantanyane, Nkaka, Nkakana, Nku-khethoga, Pare hutan, Tshegatshega, Tshibavhe, Wonder apple

Synonyms

Momordica involucrata E. Mey ex Sond.; Momordica schinzii Cogn. ex Schinz; Nevrosperma cuspidata Raf.;