Momordica calantha
Gilg
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Description
A pumpkin family climbing herb. It grows 4 m long. It has tendrils. The leaves are broadly oval. They are 6-17 cm long by 5-15 cm wide. There can be 3-5 lobes. The fruit are bright red and 5-6 cm long by 4 cm wide. The seeds are in a sticky pulp.
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows between 600-1,800 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda,
Synonyms
Momordica umbellata (Cogn.) A. Zimm.Peponia umbellata Cogn.Peponium umbellatum (Cogn.) Engl.
References (4)
- East African Herbarium records, 1981,
- Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
- Njoroge, G. & Newton, L. E. 1994, Edible and Poisonous Species of Cucurbitaceaea in the Central Highlands of Kenya. Journal of East African Natural History. 83:101-115
- Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 102
