THE WORLDWIDE FRUITS
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    • ORDER ARECALES >
      • FAMILY ARECACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY ARECOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Areceae >
            • Subtribe Arecinae >
              • Genus Areca >
                • Areca catechu - Petel nut palm
                • For Copy
            • Subtribe Euterpeinae >
              • Genus Euterpe >
                • Euterpe oleracea
                • Euterpe precatoria
            • Subtribe Iquanurinae
            • Subtribe Ptychospermatinae
            • Subtribe Roystoneinae
          • Tribe Caryoteae >
            • Genus Arenga >
              • Arenga pinnata - Sugar palm
          • Tribe Cocoeae >
            • Genus Cocos >
              • Cocos nucifera (Coconut palm)
            • Genus Elaeis >
              • Elaeis quineensis - Oil palm tree
        • SUBFAMILY CALAMOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Calameae >
            • Genus Salacca >
              • Salacca wallichiana - Rakum palm
              • Salacca zalacca - Salak
        • SUBFAMILY CEROXYLOIDEAE >
          • Genus Phytelephas >
            • Phytelephas aequatorialis
            • Phytelephas macrocarpa
        • SUBFAMILY CORYPHOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Borasseae >
            • Genus Borassus >
              • Borassus flabellifer (Toddy palm)
            • Genus Lodoicea >
              • Lodoicea maldivica (Double coconut)
          • Tribe Phoeniceae >
            • Genus Phoenix >
              • Phoenix dactylifera (Date palm)
              • Phoenix reclinata (Senrgal date palm)
              • Phoenix sylvestris (Indian date palm)
        • SUBFAMILY NYPOIDEAE >
          • Genus Nypa >
            • Nypa fruticans (Nipa palm)
    • ORDER BRASSICALES >
      • FAMILY CAPPARACEAE >
        • Genus Capparis >
          • Capparis spinosa - Caper berry
        • Genus Crateva >
          • Crateva adansonii
          • Crateva religiosa - Garlic pear
      • FAMILY CARICACEAE >
        • Genus Carica >
          • Carica papaya - Papaya
        • Genus Jacaratia
        • Genus Vasconcellea >
          • Vasconcellea candicans - Mito tree
          • Vasconcellea goudotiana
          • Vasconcellea monoica
          • Vasconcellea pubescens - Mountain papaya
          • Vasconcellea querciflora
          • Vasconcellea x heilbornii - Babaco tree
    • ORDER CARYPHYLLALES >
      • FAMILY CACTACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY CACTOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Cacteae
          • Tribe Cereeae >
            • Genus Cereus >
              • Cereus hildmannianus
              • Cereus jamacaru
              • Cereus repandus
          • Tribe Helocereeae >
            • Genus Hylocereus >
              • Hylocereus costaricensis (Red-fleshed Pitahaya)
              • Hylocereus indatus (Pitahaya or Dragon fruit)
              • Hylocereus megalanthus (Yellow pitahaya)
        • SUBFAMILY OPUNTIEAE >
          • Tribe Opuntieae >
            • Genus Opuntia >
              • Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly pear)
              • Opuntia matudae (Xoconostle cactus)
        • SUBFAMILY PERESKIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Pereskia >
            • Pereskia aculeata
            • Pereskia bleo - Rose cactus
    • ORDER CUCURBITALES >
      • FAMILY CUCURBITACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY CUCURBITOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Benincaseae >
            • Subtribe Benincasinae >
              • Genus Acanthosicyos >
                • Acanthosicyos horridus - Nara melon
                • Acathosicyos naudinianus - Gemsbok cucumber
              • Genus Benincasa >
                • Benincasa hispida - Winter melon
              • Genus Coccinia >
                • Coccinia grandis - Ivy gourd
              • Genus Cucumis >
                • Cucumis anguria - Maroon cucumber
                • Cucumis dipsaceus - Wild Spiny Cucumber
                • Cucumis melo - Muskmelon >
                  • Cantaloupe
                • Cucumis humofructus - Aadvark cucumber
                • Cucumis metuliferus - Horned melon
                • Cucumis myriocarpus - Gooseberry cucumber
                • Cucumis prophetarum - Paddy melon
                • Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) >
                  • Lemon Cucumber
              • Genus Citrullus >
                • Citrullus caffer - Citron melon
                • Citrullus colocynthis - Desert gourd
                • Citrullus ecirrhosus - Tsamma melon
                • Citrullus lanatus - Watermelon
              • Genus Lagenaria >
                • Lagennaria siceraria - Bottle gourd
            • Subtribe Luffinae >
              • Subtribe Cucumerinae
          • Tribe Cucurbiteae >
            • Genus Abobra >
              • Abobra tenuifolia - Cranberry gourd
            • Genus Cucurbita >
              • Cucurbita argyrosperma - Cushaw pumpkin
              • Cucurbita ficifolia - Figleaf gourd
              • Cucurbita foetidissima - Buffalo gourd
              • Cucurbita maxima - Giant pumpkin
              • Cucurbita moschata - Butternut squash
              • Cucurbita okeechobeensis
              • Cucurbita pepo - Field pumpkin
            • Genus Sicana >
              • New Page
              • Acorn Squash
          • Tribe Joliffieae >
            • Genus Siraitia >
              • Siraitia grosvenorii (Luo han guo or Monk fruit)
            • Genus Telfairia
          • Tribe Momordiceae >
            • Genus Momordica >
              • Momordica charantia - Bitter melon
              • Momordica cochinchinensis - Gac
              • Momordica dioica - Spine Gourd
          • Tribe Sicyoeae >
            • Genus Cyclanthera >
              • Cyclanthera explodens
              • Cyclanthera pedata - Achocha gourd
            • Genus Frantzia
            • Genus Hodgsonia
            • Genus Luffa >
              • Luffa accutangula (Angled luffa)
              • Luffa Aegyptiaca (Smooth luffa)
            • Genus Marah
            • Genus Sechium - Chayota genus >
              • Sechium edule - Chayote
            • Genus Trichosanthes >
              • Trichosanthes cucumerina - Snake gourd
          • Tribe Siraitieae >
            • Genus Siraitia >
              • Siraitia grosvenorii - Monk fruit
    • ORDER ERICALES >
      • FAMILY ACTINIDIACEAE >
        • Genus Actinidia >
          • Actinidia arguta - Hardy kiwifruit
          • Actinidia chinensis - Golden kiwi)fruit
          • Actinidia diliciosa - Kiwi fruit
          • Actinidia kolomikta - Arctic kiwifruit
          • Actinidia melanandra - Red kiwifruit
          • Actinidia polygama - Silver vine
      • FAMILY EBENACEAE >
        • Genus Diospyros >
          • Diospyros blancoi - Velvet persimmon
          • Diospyros decandra - Gold apple
          • Diospyros kaki - Asian Persimmon
          • Diospyros lotus - Lilac persimmon
          • Diospyros nigra - Black sapote
          • Diospyros taxana - Texas persimmon
          • Diospyros virginiana (American Persimmon)
      • FAMILY ERICACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY ARBUTOIDEAE >
          • Genus Arbutus >
            • Arbutus andrachne - Greek strawberry tree
            • Arbutus azizonica
            • Arbutus unedo - Strawberry tree
            • Arbutus xalapensis
          • Genus Artostaphylos
          • Genus Xylococcus >
            • Xylococcus bicolor - Mission mananita
        • SUBFAMILY STYPHELIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Leptecophylla >
            • Leptecophylla juniperina
            • Leptecophylla tameiameiae
          • Genus Styphelia
        • SUBFAMILY VACCINOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Gaultherieae >
            • Genus Gaultheria
          • Tribe Vaccinieae >
            • Genus Gaylussacia >
              • Gaylussacia baccata - Black Huckleberry
              • Gaylussacia branchycera (Box Huckleberry)
              • Gaylussacia dumosa (Dwarf Huckleberry)
              • Gaylussacia frondosa (Blue Huckleberry)
            • Genus Vaccinium >
              • Bilberry or Whortleberry
              • Blueberry
              • Cranberry
              • Lingonberry or Cowberry
              • Huckleberry
      • FAMILY LECYTHIDACEAE >
        • Genus Bertholletia >
          • Bertholletia excelsa - Brazil nut
        • Genus Couroupita >
          • Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball tree
        • Genus Gustavia >
          • Gustavia superba
        • Genus Lecythis >
          • Lecythis pisonic
          • Lecythis zabucajo
      • FAMILY SAPOTACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY CHRYSOPHYLLOIDEAE >
          • Genus Chrysophyllum >
            • Chrysophyllum albidum - African star apple
            • Chrysophyllum cainito - Milk fruit
            • Chrysophyllum oliviforme - Wild Star apple
            • Chrysophyllum roxburghii
            • Chrysophyllum magalismontanum
          • Genus Englerophytum >
            • Englerrophytum magalismontanum
            • Englerophytum natalense
          • Genus Synsepalum >
            • Synsepalum dulcificum (Miracle fruit)
          • Genus Pouteria >
            • Pouteria australis
            • Pouteria campechiana - Cannistel
            • Pouteria caimito - Abiu tree
            • Pouteria eerwark
            • Pouteria lucuma - Lucuma
            • Pouteria multiflora - Broad - leaved lucuma
            • Pouteria sandwicensis
            • Pouteria sapota - Mamey sapote
            • Pouteria viridis - Green sapote
        • SUBFAMILY SAPODOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Sapoteae >
            • Genus Manilkara >
              • Manilkara bidentata - Cow tree
              • Manilkara chicle (Chicle)
              • Manilkara hexandra
              • Manilkara huberi
              • Manilkara zopota (Sapodilla)
            • Genus Mimusops >
              • Mimusops caffra
              • Mimusops elengi
              • Mimusops zeyheri
          • Tribe Sideroxyleae >
            • Genus Argania >
              • Argania spinosa
    • ORDER FABALES >
      • FAMILY FABACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY CAESALPINIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Pithecellobium >
            • Pithecellobium dulce
        • SUBFAMILY DETARIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Tamarindus - Tamarind genus >
            • Tamarindus indica - Tamarind
        • SUBFAMILY DIALIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Dialium >
            • Dialium cochinchinense
            • Dialium guineense - Black velvet tamarind
            • Dialium indum - Tamarin plum
        • SUBFAMILY FABOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Dalbergieae >
            • Genus Arachis - Peanut genus >
              • Arachis hypogaea - Peanut
          • Tribe Fabeae >
            • Genus Lathyrus - Peavine genus
            • Genus Pisum >
              • Pisum sativum - Pea
            • Genus Vicia >
              • Vicia faba - Broad bean
          • Tribe Phaseoleae >
            • Subtribe Cajaninae >
              • Genus Cajanus - Pigeon pea genus >
                • Cajanus cajan - Pigeon pea
            • Subtribe Glycininae >
              • Genus Glycine >
                • Glycine max
            • Subtribe Phaseolinae >
              • Genus Psophocarpus - Winged bean genus >
                • Psophocarpus tetragonolobus - Winged bean
    • ORDER LAMIALES >
      • FAMILY OLEACEAE >
        • Tribe Oleeae >
          • Genus Olea >
            • Olea europaea - Olive
      • FAMILY PEDALIACEAE >
        • Genus Sesamum >
          • Sesamum indicum - Sesame
          • Genus Couroupita
    • ORDER LAURALES >
      • FAMILY LAURACEAE >
        • Genus Persea >
          • Persea americana (Avocado)
    • ORDER MAGNOLIALES >
      • FAMILY ANNONACEAE >
        • Genus Annona >
          • Annona x atemoya - Atenmoya
          • Annona cherimola - Cherimoya
          • Annona chrysophylia - Graines
          • Annona crassiflora - Marrolo
          • Annona diversiflora - Ilama
          • Annona glabra - Pond apple
          • Annona montana - Mountain soursop
          • Annona muricata - Soursop
          • Annona purpurea - Soncoya
          • Annona reticulata - Custard apple
          • Annona sebegalensis - African custard apple
          • Annona squamosa - Sweetsop
        • Genus Anonidium >
          • Anonidium mannii - Junglesop
        • Genus Asimina >
          • Asimina triloba - Common pawpaw
        • Genus Monodora >
          • Monodora myristica - Calabash nutmeg
        • Genus Rollinia >
          • Rollinia deliciosa - Wild sugar apple
        • Genus Uvaria >
          • Uvaria chamae
          • Uvaria ovata
          • Uvaria rufa
      • FAMILY MYRRISTICACEAE >
        • Genus Myristica >
          • Myristica fragrans - True nutmeg
          • Myristica malabarica - Bombay nutmeg
        • Genus Pycnanthus
    • ORDER MALPIGHIALES >
      • FAMILY CALOPHYLLACEAE >
        • Genus Mammea >
          • Mammea africana - African mamey apple
          • Mammea americana - Mamey apple
      • FAMILY CLUSIACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY CLUSIOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Garcinieae >
            • Genus Garcinia >
              • Garcinia dulcis - Mundu tree
              • Garcinia humilis - Achacha tree
              • Garcinia gardneriana - Bacupari
              • Garcinia indica - Kokum tree
              • Garcinia intermedia - Lemon drop mangosteen
              • Garcinia mangostana - Mangosteen
          • Tribe Platonieae >
            • Genus Platonia - Bacury genus >
              • Platonia insignis - Bacuri tree
          • Tribe Plukenetieae
        • SUBFAMILY HYPERICOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Calophylleae >
            • Genus Mammea
      • FAMILY EUPHORBIACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY ACALYPHOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Acalypheae >
            • Genus Ricinus >
              • Ricinus communis
          • Tribe Plukenetieae >
            • Genus Plukenetia >
              • Plukenetia conophora
              • Plukenetia volubitis
        • SUBFAMILY CROTONOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Aleuritideae >
            • Genus Aleurites
          • Tribe Manitroteae >
            • Genus Manihot
          • Tribe Micrandreae >
            • Genus Schinziophyton
      • FAMILY MALPIGHIACEAE >
        • Genus Bunchosia >
          • Bunchosia argentea
          • Bunchosia armeniaca >
            • FAMILY GOMORTEGACEAE >
              • Genus Gomortega >
                • Gomortega keule
        • Genus Byrsonima >
          • Byrsonima crassifolia - Nance fruit
        • Genus Malpighia >
          • Malpighia emarginata (West Indian cherry)
      • FAMILY PHYLLANTHACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY ANTIDESMATOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Antidesmeae >
            • Genus Antidesma >
              • Antidesma bunius
          • Tribe Scepinae >
            • Genus Baccaurea
        • SUBFAMILY PHYLLANTHOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Phyllantheae >
            • Genus Phyllanthus >
              • Phyllanthus acidus (Star gooseberry)
              • Phyllanthus emblica (Indian gooseberry)
    • ORDER MALVALES >
      • FAMILY BIXACEAE >
        • Genus Bixa >
          • Bixa orellana
      • FAMILY MALVACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY BOMBACOIDEAE >
          • Genus Adansona - Baobab genus >
            • Adansonia digitata - Baobab
            • Adansonia grandidieri - Giant baobab
            • Andansonia gregorii - Australian baobab
          • Genus Quararibea >
            • Quararibea cordata - South American Sapote
        • SUBFAMILY BYTTNEROIDEAE >
          • Genus Theobroma >
            • Theobroma bicolor (Mocambo)
            • Theobroma cacao (Cacao tree)
            • Theobroma granddiflorum - Cupuacu tree
        • SUBFAMILY HELICTEROIDEAE >
          • Tribe Durionneae >
            • Genus Durio L. >
              • Durio dulcis (Red Durian)
              • Durio kutejensis - Durian pulu
              • Durio zibethinus (Durian)
              • Durio graveolens - Red fleshed durian
        • SUBFAMILY MALVOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Hibisceae >
            • Genus Abelmoschus >
              • Abelmoschus caillei - West African okra
              • Abelmoschus esculentus - Okra
        • SUBFAMILY STERCULIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Cola >
            • Cola acuminata
            • Cola nilida
          • Genus Sterculia
      • FAMILY MUNTINGIACEAE >
        • Genus Muntingia >
          • Muntingia calabura (Jamaica cherry)
    • ORDER MYRTALES >
      • FAMILY LYTHRACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY PUNICOIDEAE >
          • Genus Punica >
            • Runica granatum (Pomegranate)
            • Punica protopunica (Socotran pomegranate)
        • SUBFAMILY SONNERATIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Sonneratia >
            • Sonneratia alba
            • Sonneratia caseolaris
            • Sonneratia hainanensis
            • Sonneratia ovata
        • SUBFAMILY TRAPOIDEAE >
          • Genus Trapa >
            • Trapa natan - Water caltrop
      • FAMILY MYRTACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY MYRTOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Myrteae >
            • Genus Acca >
              • Acca sellowiana
            • Genus Amomyrtus
            • Genus Austromyrtus
            • Genus Eugenia
            • Genus Hexachlamys
            • Genus Luma >
              • Luma apiculata
              • Luma chequen
            • Genus Myrtus
            • Genus Plinia
            • Genus Psidium >
              • Psidium cattleyanum (Cherry Guava)
              • Psidium guajava (Guava)
            • Genus Rhodomyrtus
            • Genus Ugni
          • Tribe Syzygieae >
            • Genus Syzygium >
              • Syzygium jambos
              • Syzygium oleosum
              • Syzygium paniculatum
              • Syzygium papyraceum
              • Syzygium samarangense (Java apple)
              • Syzygium smithii
              • New Page
    • ORDER ROSALES >
      • FAMILY CANNABACEAE >
        • Genus Celtis >
          • Celtis occidentalis
          • Celtis sinensis
      • FAMILY ELAEAGNACEAE >
        • Genus Elaeagnus >
          • Elaegnus angustifola - Russian olive
          • Elaeagnus multiflora - Cherry silverberry
        • Genus Hippophae >
          • Hippophae rhamnoides - Sea buckthorn
        • Genus Shepherdia >
          • Shepherdia argentea - Silver buffaloberry
          • Shepherdia canadensis - Canadian buffalberry
      • FAMILY MORACEAE >
        • Tribe Artocarpeae >
          • Genus Artocarpus >
            • Artocarpus altilis (Breadfruit)
            • Artocarpus camansi - Breadnut
            • Artocarpus integer (Cempedak)
            • Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit)
          • Genus Treculia >
            • Treculia africana (African breadfruit)
        • Tribe Dorstenieae >
          • Genus Brosimum - Breadnut genus >
            • Brosimum alicastrum - Breadnut
        • Tribe Durioneae >
          • Genus Durio >
            • Durio zibethinus (Durian)
        • Tribe Ficeae >
          • Genus Ficus >
            • Ficus carica - Common fig
            • Ficus coronata - Creek sandpeper fig
            • Ficus platypoda - Desert fig
            • Ficus racemosa - Cluster fig
        • Tribe Moceae >
          • Genus Maclura >
            • Maclura cochinchinensis - Cockpur thorn
            • Maclura pomifera - Osage orange
          • Genus Morus >
            • Morus nigra - Black mulberry
            • Morus rubra - Red mulberry
      • FAMILY RHAMNACEAE >
        • Genus Ziziphus >
          • Ziziphus jujuba
          • Ziziphus lotus
          • Ziziphus mauritiana
          • Ziziphus mistol
          • Ziziphus mucronata
          • Ziziphus nummularia
      • FAMILY ROSACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY AMYGDALOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Amygdaleae >
            • Genus Prunus >
              • Subgenus Amygdalus - Almond and Peach >
                • Prunus dulcis - Almond
                • Prunus persica - Peach
              • Subgenus Cerasus - Cherry tree >
                • Prunus avium (Sweet cherry)
                • Prunus cerasus (Sourc cherry)
              • Subgenus Prunus - Apricot and Plum >
                • Section Armeniaca - Apricot trees
                • Plum trees
              • Subgenus laurocerasus - Cherry laurel
              • Subgenus Lithocerasus
              • Subgenus Padus - Bird cherry
          • Tribe Maleae >
            • Subtribe Malinae >
              • Genus Cydonia >
                • Cydonia oblonga (Quince)
              • Genus Eriobotrya >
                • Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat)
              • Genus Malus >
                • Malus domestica - Apple tree
                • Malus sylvestris - European Wild apple
                • Malus pumila (Apple tree)
              • Genus Pyrus >
                • Pyrus communis - European pear
                • Pyrus pyrifolia - Asian pear
                • Pyrus x bretschneideri - Chinese white pear
              • Genus Sorbus >
                • Sorbus subgenus Aria
                • Sorbus subgenus Chamaemespilus
                • Sorbus subgenus Cormus
                • Sorbus subgenus Micromeles
                • Sorbus subgenus Sorbus
                • Sorbus subgenus Torminaria
        • SUBFAMILY ROSOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Rubeae >
            • Genus Prunus
            • Genus Rubus >
              • Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry)
              • Rubus x loganobaccus (Loganberry)
            • Genus Eriobotrya
          • Tribe Potentilleae >
            • Genus Fragaria >
              • Fragaria x ananassa (Straw berry)
              • Fragaria virginiana (Virgina strawberry)
              • Fragaria moschata - Musk strawberry
    • ORDER SAPINDALES >
      • FAMILY ANACARDIACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY ANACARDIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Anacardium >
            • Anacardium occidentale (Cashew tree)
            • Anacardium othonianum (Little cashew)
          • Genus Bouea
          • Genus Mangifera - Mango genus >
            • Mangifera indica - Mango tree
            • Mangifera odorata - Saipan Mango
            • Mangifera siamensis - Thai Mango
            • Mangifera sylvatica - Nepal Mango
          • Genus Rhus >
            • Rhus ovata - Sugar sumac
            • Rhus typhina - Staghorn sumac
        • SUBFAMILY SPONDIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Dracontomelon >
            • Dracontomelon duperreanum (Vietnamese: Sau)
          • Genus Spondias >
            • Spondias dulcis (Golden apple)
            • Spondias mombin (Yellow mommbin)
            • Spondias purpurea - Purple mombin
            • Spondias tuberosa (Brazil plum)
      • FAMILY BURSERACEAE >
        • Genus Canarium >
          • Canarium album
          • Canarium luzonicum
          • Canarium ovatum
          • Canarium pseudodecumanum
        • Genus Dacryodes >
          • Dacryodes edulis - Safou tree
      • FAMILY MELIACEAE >
        • Genus Lansium >
          • Lansium parasiticum - Langsat tree
        • Genus Sandoricum >
          • Sandoricum koetiape - Santol fruit
      • FAMILY RUTACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY AURANTIOIDEAE >
          • Tribe Citreae >
            • Subtribe Balamocitrinae >
              • Genus Aegle - Bael genus
            • Subtribe Citrinae >
              • Genus Citrus >
                • Important Species >
                  • Citrus maxima (Pomelo)
                  • Citrus medica (Citron)
                  • Citrus reticulata - Mandarin
                  • Citrus tangerina (Tangerine)
                • Important Hybrids >
                  • Citrus x sinensis (Sweet orange)
                  • Citrus reticula x sinensis (King orange)
              • Genus Fortunella
            • FAMILY VITACEAE >
              • Genus Cayratia >
                • Cayralia trifola (Vietnamese wild grape)
              • Genus Vitis >
                • Vitis labrusca (Fox grape vine)
                • Vitis vinifera (Common grape vine)
            • Subtribe Triphasiinae
          • Tribe Clauseneae >
            • Genus Glycosmis
        • SUBFAMILY TODDALIOIDEAE >
          • Genus Casimiroa >
            • Casimiroa edulis - White sapote
      • FAMILY SAPINDACEAE >
        • SUBFAMILY HIPPOCASTANOIDEAE >
          • Genus Aesculus - Horse chestnut genus >
            • Aesculus hippocastanum - Horse chestnut
        • SUBFAMILY SAPINDOIDEAE >
          • Genus Blighia >
            • Blighia sapida (Ackee)
          • Genus Diploglottis >
            • Diploglottis australis - Australian tamarin
          • Genus Dimocarpus >
            • Dimocarpus longan (Longan tree)
          • Genus Litchi >
            • Litchi chinensis (Lychee)
          • Genus Melicoccus >
            • Melicoccus bijugatus - Spanish lime
          • Genus Nephelium >
            • Nephelium hypoleucum (Korlan tree)
            • Nephelium malabile (Pulasan tree)
            • Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan)
            • Nephelium xerospermoides (Hairless Rambutan)
          • Genus Paullinia >
            • Paullinia cupana - Guarana tree
          • Genus Talisia >
            • Talisia esculenta
        • SUBFAMILY XANTHOCEROIDEAE >
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Genus Momordica

Momordica charantia
Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon

Edited by Ho Dinh Hai
Long An - Vietnam
​Updated: 27/07/2017

1- Introduction tpo the Species Momordica charantia L . - Bitter gourd or Bitter melon

                 1.1- Scientific classification
                  Kingdom:          Plantae
                 (unranked):        Angiosperms
                 (unranked):        Eudicots
                 (unranked):        Rosids
                  Order:               Cucurbitales
                  Family:              Cucurbitaceae
                  Subfamily:        Cucurbitoideae           
                  Tribe:                Momordiceae H. Schaef. & S.S. Renner
                  Genus:              Momordica L.
                  Species:            Momordica charantia L
                  1.2- Species Momordica charantia L. - Bitter gourd or Bitter melon
                   + Overview
                  Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pear, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the Genus Momordica of the Tribe Momordiceae, of the Subfamily   family Cucurbitaceae of the Order Cucurbitales. It is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. It is sometimes known by names loaned from Asian languages.
                Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced into China in the 14th century. It is widely used in East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian cuisine.
                  + Alternative Names
                Bitter melon also has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords, e.g. kǔguā from Chinese, nigauri from Japanese, gōyā from Okinawan...
                  Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee.
              In the Philippines it is called ampalaya or amargoso. In Indonesia it is called paria, peria, or (most commonly) pare. And in the Republic of Suriname it is called "sopropo".

2- Characteristics of the Species Momordica charantia L. - Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon

​                2.1- Description
                 + The plant
                 Momordica charantia is an annual to perennial monoecious climbing or sprawling herb, 2-3 m tall. It may be either hairless or slightly hairy. This herbaceous, tendril-bearing vine grows up to 5 m (16 ft) in length.
                  The well branched, slender, green stems are usually slightly 5-angled or ridged, and carry unbranched tendrils in the leaf axils.
There is a central taproot, from the apex of which the stems spread to climb over any available support.
                 + The leaves
                 The leaves are carried singly along the stems on 3-5 cm long stalks, and each leaf is 4-10 cm long, rounded in outline, and deeply 5-9 lobed. The foliage has an unpleasant smell when crushed.
                 + The flowers
                Each plant bears separate yellow male and female flowers. The flowers occur singly in the upper leaf axils on 2-10 cm long stalks with a small leaf-like bract towards the base.
                Male flowers have a slender basal swelling which is continuous with the base of the sepal tube, which ends in five blunt sepals. There are five oval yellow petals 10-20 cm long, and five central stamens.
             Female flowers are similar to the male flowers but have a distinct warty swelling well below the base of the sepal tube and three stigmas. Male flowers appear first and usually exceed the number of female flowers by about 20:1. The flower opens at sunrise and remains open for only one day.
                 In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs during June to July and fruiting during September to November.
                  + The fruits
                 The pendulous cylindrical fruits are egg-shaped and 2-10 cm long (up to 20 cm in cultivated varieties), and covered with longitudinal ridges and warts. At maturity, they turn orange to yellow, and the tips split into three and turn back to reveal the yellow pulp and the bright red arils that enclose the seeds which adhere to the inside of the fruit.
              The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith.
                 + The seeds
                Each of the flattened woody seeds is 5-9 mm long, and has finely pitted surfaces.
                Seeds and pith appear white in unripe fruits; they are not intensely bitter and can be removed before cooking.
                The seedlings show epigeal germination, and resemble cucumber seedlings. The thick, brittle hypocotyl is 2-3 cm long, the cotyledons thick, firm, convex on the lower surface and almost without veins, the epicotyl 1-2 cm long and the first leaves shortly stalked, rounded, bluntly lobed and finely toothed.
                 2.2- Origin and Distribution
                  + Origin:
                 Momordica charantia is native to the Old World and was possibly domesticated in India and southern China.
                  + Distribution:
                 It is now found naturalized in almost all tropical and subtropical regions. It is an important market vegetable in southern and eastern Asia, and wild and cultivated populations can be found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, southern China and tropical Africa (PROTA, 2014).
           It is believed that Momordica  charantia was introduced into America from West Africa with the slave trade. In the West Indies, Momordica charantia was first recorded in Puerto Rico in 1885 (US National Herbarium). By the end of nineteenth century, local cultivars originally from Asia were recorded on small scale cultivations in tropical America and the southern part of the United States (PROTA, 2014).
               2.5- Health benefits of Bitter Melon
                + Introduction
            Have you ever heard of Momordica charantia? Or wait, what about karela? Now don’t get scared. These are just a couple of other names for bitter gourd, which is also known as bitter melon or bitter squash in English. The first thing that comes to my mind seeing it is the bitterness in the name. They are dark or light green in color depending on the region where they are grown. Though they taste very bitter, they are filled with many beneficial antioxidants and essential vitamins (1).
              Bitter melon, also known as ‘Karela’ in Hindi, ‘Kakarakaya‘ in Telugu, ‘Pavakkai‘ in Tamil, ‘Pavakka‘ in Malayalam, ‘Hagalkai‘ in Kannada, ‘Karela‘ in Gujarati, ‘Karle‘ in Marathi, and ‘Korola‘ in Bengali can be consumed in various ways like drinking its juice, pickle or using it in recipes.
​                + The 24 Health Benefits Of Bitter Gourd:
                 Let us quickly look at some of the most-well known health benefits of Bitter Melon:
                  1- Respiratory Disorders
                The fresh pods are an excellent remedy for curing respiratory problems like asthma, cold, cough, etc. Also, the paste of bitter melon leaves, along with the paste of tulsi leaves, when taken with honey in the morning, is a good remedy (2).
                  2. Liver Tonic
                 Drink one glass of bitter melon juice daily to heal liver problems. Keep consuming this continuously for a week to see results (3).
                  3. Immune System
                Boil bitter melon leaves or fruits in water and consume it every day to fight against infections. This also helps to build your immunity (4).
                 4. Acne
           Consuming bitter melon can help you get rid of acne, blemishes and deep skin infections. Bitter melon is useful in treating blood disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ringworm and other fungal diseases. The free radicals in it are also useful for anti-ageing. Consume the juice of a bitter melon mixed with lemon on an empty stomach daily for 6 months or till you get the desired results (5).
                 5. Diabetes
            Bitter melon juice benefits include helping to overcome type 2 diabetes (6). It has been a part of the Chinese and Indian ancient medicine for a long time but only recent research has proven that it is no folk lore. Type 2 diabetes is caused partially due to the inability of a cell to absorb the sugar in the blood due to insufficient insulin or due to development of resistance to insulin. In both cases, the cells are unable to absorb the sugar due to the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced.
              The absorption of sugar occurs due to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in the cells. Bitter gourd activates these kinases due to which the absorption of sugar increases and hence, aids in bringing diabetes under control. Green juice for diabetics: cucumbers, green apples, bitter melon, celery, ½ green capsicum (bell pepper). Bitter melon contains certain chemicals that are like insulin which help to reduce the blood sugar levels.
                6. Constipation
               Bitter melon helps in easy digestion as it contains fiber properties. The food is digested and the waste is thrown out of the body which helps in curing indigestion and constipation problems (7).
                7. Kidney And Bladder
               Bitter melon helps to maintain a healthy liver and bladder. It is also useful in curing kidney stones (8).
                8. Heart Disease
             Bitter melon is very good for the heart in many ways. It helps reduce the bad cholesterol levels which clog the arterial walls and thereby reduces the chances of heart attacks. Also, it is known to lower the blood sugar levels that help in maintaining a good heart health (9).
                9. Cancer
                 Bitter melon can prevent cancer cells from multiplying (10).
                 10. Weight Loss
             Bitter melon contains antioxidants that help to flush out your system. This improves your metabolism and digestive systems, thus helping you lose weight quickly. The two other major factors that aid in weight loss are the calorie control and filling components. Calorie control happens as such because vegetables are low in calories that allows you to consume more quantities of them. The filling component in this vegetable is water. We know that water is a universal suppressant of hunger. The pods of this vegetable contain on the whole 80-85% water (11).
               11. Energizes Naturally
              Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice improves stamina and energy levels of the individual and improves sleeping patterns.
               12. Purifies Blood
            The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of bitter gourd juice help to treat skin problems, blood disorders, clear toxins from the blood and purify it, and further improves blood circulation throughout the body. It helps to cure issues like itching caused by toxaemia, rashes, acne, psoriasis, blood boils and even inhibits the growth of cancerous cells in the body.
               Skin Benefits Of Bitter Gourd/ Bitter Melon
          The appearance of your skin is largely determined by what you put inside your body. In other words, getting proper nutrition is a prerequisite for a healthy and damage-free skin. Being a natural blood purifier, bitter gourd helps in improving the appearance of your skin. It provides the following benefits to your skin:
               13. Prevents Skin Problems
              The regular consumption of bitter gourd helps in keeping your skin glowing and free from blemishes. It also helps prevent acne thanks to its blood purifying properties (12).
               14. Skin Infections
             Bitter melon benefits in treating skin diseases or skin infections, eczema and psoriasis (13). The regular consumption of bitter gourd juice helps in improving psoriasis as well as other fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.
               15. Anti-Aging
             Bitter gourd contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant (14). By fighting and eliminating the harmful free radicals, it helps to prevent wrinkles by slowing down the aging process. It also protects the skin from damage by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
               16. Healing Qualities
               Bitter gourd helps in controlling the blood flow and clotting, causing wounds to heal faster, preventing further infections.
                 Hair Benefits Of Bitter Melon
                Bitter gourd is a great home remedy for your hair. Besides being beneficial for your skin and health, bitter gourd juice is also effective in treating hair problems and promoting longevity. It is beneficial for your hair in the following ways:
                17. Shiny Hair
              To impart a natural shine to your hair, you can mix a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice with yoghurt and apply on your hair. Wash off after sometime. This will make your hair shiny and beautiful (15).
               18. Dandruff
               Dandruff is a common problem and is mostly caused due to the consumption of unhealthy food and exposure to pollution. To ward off dandruff, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice and cumin seeds. Regular usage of this pack will rid you of dandruff within a month.
              19. Split Ends
            If you are troubled by split ends, you can apply raw bitter gourd juice to your split ends and then comb gently. This should be done twice a week to get rid of split ends.
              20. Dry And Itchy Scalp
             To combat the dryness of the scalp, you can rub a fresh piece of bitter gourd on it and massage your scalp in a circular motion. Then, rinse off with clear water. To combat the itchiness, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice with either avocado or banana and apply it on your scalp. This should be used at least once a week to get rid of an itchy scalp.
               21. Hair Loss
            Bitter gourd juice helps in reducing hair fall naturally. All you need to do is mix bitter gourd juice with a dash of sugar and use this paste on your hair to get good results (16).
               22. Rough And Tangled Hair
             If you have rough and tangled hair, you can pour a cup of bitter gourd juice and allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hair. This will help smoothen your hair texture and make it soft and shiny.
               23. Grey Hair
             Bitter gourd can also treat premature graying of hair. You can apply freshly squeezed bitter gourd juice on your Grey strands. Doing this once in every ten days will reduce the Grey hair growth.
               24. Oily Hair
          Increased intake of oily food can cause the accumulation of excess oil in your hair. If you have oily hair, you should first limit the consumption of oily food. You can apply a mixture of bitter gourd juice and apple cider vinegar to remove the excess oil from your hair.
               Source: 24 Best Health Benefits Of Bitter Gourd (Bitter Melon) - StyleCraze

3- The Uses of Bitter melon

​                3.1- Food Uses
              Bitter melon is generally consumed cooked in the green or early yellowing stage. The young shoots and leaves of the bitter melon may also be eaten as greens.
             The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote or green bell pepper, but bitter. The skin is tender and edible. When the fruit is fully ripe, it turns orange and mushy, and splits into segments which curl back dramatically to expose seeds covered in bright red pulp.
            In Chinese cuisine, bitter melon (Chinese: 苦瓜, pinyin: kǔguā or kugua) is valued for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries (often with pork and douchi), soups, dim sum, and herbal teas (See Gohyah tea). It has also been used in place of hops as the bittering ingredient in some beers in China and Okinawa.
              Bitter melon is very popular throughout India. In North Indian cuisine, it is often served with yogurt on the side to offset the bitterness, used in curry such as sabzi or stuffed with spices and then cooked in oil.
​              In South Indian cuisine, it is used in the dishes thoran/thuvaran (mixed with grated coconut), mezhukkupuratti (stir fried with spices), theeyal (cooked with roasted coconut) and pachadi (which is considered a medicinal food for diabetics). Other popular recipes include preparations with curry, deep fried with peanuts or other ground nuts, and Pachi Pulusu, a soup with fried onions and other spices. In Karnataka, which is known as Hāgalakāyi in Kannada language similarly in Tamil Nadu, it is known as paagarkaai or pavakai in Tamil a special preparation called pagarkai pitla, a kind of sour koottu, variety is very popular. Also popular is kattu pagarkkai, a curry that involves stuffing with onions, cooked lentil and grated coconut mix, tied with thread and fried in oil. In the Konkan region of Maharashtra, salt is added to finely chopped bitter gourd, known as karle in Marathi, and then it is squeezed, removing its bitter juice to some extent. After frying this with different spices, the less bitter and crispy preparation is served with grated coconut. It's known as Karate in Goa, it's valued for its health benefits and used widely in Goan cuisine.
              In northern India and Nepal, bitter melon, known as tite karela in Nepali, is prepared as a fresh pickle. For this, the vegetable is cut into cubes or slices, and sautéed with oil and a sprinkle of water. When it is softened and reduced, it is crushed in a mortar with a few cloves of garlic, salt and a red or green pepper. It is also eaten sautéed to golden-brown, stuffed, or as a curry on its own or with potatoes.
              In Sri Lanka, it is known as karavila in Sinhala and is an ingredient in many different curry dishes (e.g., Karawila Curry and Karawila Sambol) which are served mainly with rice in a main meal. Sometimes large grated coconut pieces are added, which is more common in rural areas. Karawila juice is also sometimes served there.
             In Pakistan, known as karela in Urdu-speaking areas, and Bangladesh, known as korola in Bengali, bitter melon is often cooked with onions, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, coriander powder, and a pinch of cumin seeds. Another dish in Pakistan calls for whole, unpeeled bitter melon to be boiled and then stuffed with cooked minced beef, served with either hot tandoori bread, naan, chappati, or with khichri (a mixture of lentils and rice).
            Bitter melon, known as gōyā in Okinawan, and nigauri in Japanese (although the Okinawan word gōyā is also used), is a significant ingredient in Okinawan cuisine, and is increasingly used in Japanese cuisine beyond that island. It is popularly credited with Okinawan life expectancies being higher than the already long Japanese ones.
            In Indonesian cuisine, bitter melon, known as pare in Javanese and Indonesian (also paria), is prepared in various dishes, such as gado-gado, and also stir fried, cooked in coconut milk, or steamed. In Christian areas in Eastern Indonesia it is cooked with pork and chile, the sweetness of the pork balancing against the bitterness of the vegetable.
            In Vietnamese cuisine, raw bitter melon slices known as mướp đắng or khổ qua in Vietnamese, eaten with dried meat floss and bitter melon soup with shrimp are popular dishes. Bitter melons stuffed with ground pork are served as a popular summer soup in the south. It is also used as the main ingredient of "stewed bitter melon". This dish is usually cooked for the Tết holiday, where its "bitter" name is taken as a reminder of the bitter living conditions experienced in the past.
             In Thai cuisine, the Chinese variety of green bitter melon, mara (มะระ) in Thai, is prepared stuffed with minced pork and garlic, in a clear broth. It is also served sliced, stir fried with garlic and fish sauce until just tender.
In the cuisine of the Philippines, bitter melon, known as ampalaya in Tagalog, and parya in Ilokano, may be stir-fried with ground beef and oyster sauce, or with eggs and diced tomato. The dish pinakbet, popular in the Ilocos region of Luzon, consists mainly of bitter melons, eggplant, okra, string beans, tomatoes, lima beans, and other various regional vegetables all stewed together with a little bagoong-based stock.
            In Trinidad and Tobago, bitter melons, known as caraille or carilley, are usually sautéed with onion, garlic and scotch bonnet pepper until almost crisp.
                 3.2- Medicinal Uses
                 + Traditional medicinal uses
              They have been in use for a very long time in Hindu medicine or Ayurveda. Bitter melon has been used in various Asian and African herbal medicine systems for a long time. In Turkey, it has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly stomach complaints. In traditional medicine of India, different parts of the plant are used as claimed treatments for diabetes (particularly Polypeptide-p, an insulin analogue), and as a stomachic, laxative, antibilious, emetic, anthelmintic agent, for the treatment of cough, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, wounds, ulcer, gout, and rheumatism.
               + Studies in Modern medicine
             Momordica charantia has a number of purported uses including cancer prevention, treatment of diabetes, fever, HIV and AIDS, and infections. While it has shown some potential clinical activity in laboratory experiments, "further studies are required to recommend its use". In 2012, the germplasm and chemical constituents, such as momordicin within several varieties of the gourd, were being studied.
             For fever reduction and relief of menstrual problems, there is no scientific research to back these claims. For cancer prevention, HIV and AIDS, and treatment of infections, there is preliminary laboratory research, but no clinical studies in humans showing a benefit. In 2017, the University of Peradeniya researchers revealed that bitter gourd seeds can be potentially used to destroy cancer cells and they were successfully administered to patients in Kandy General Hospital Cancer Unit.
              With regard to the use of Momordica charantia for diabetes, several animal studies and small-scale human studies have demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect of concentrated bitter melon extracts. In addition, a 2014 review shows evidence that Momordica charantia, when consumed in raw or juice form, can be efficacious in lowering blood glucose levels. However, multiple reviews have found that Momordica charantia does not significantly decrease fasting blood glucose levels or A1c, indicators of blood glucose control, when taken in capsule or tablet form. Momordica charantia may be beneficial in diabetes; however, the effects seem to depend on how it is consumed. More studies need to be performed in order to verify this effect. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center concludes that bitter melon "cannot be recommended as a replacement therapy for insulin or hypoglycemic drugs".
                                                                                                                                                          Edited by Ho Dinh Hai
                                                                                                                                                     Long An - Vietnam
 
                                                                                            References
               1- http://www.worldwidefruits.com
               2- http://www.worldwidefruits.com/orders-of-plants.html
               3- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitales
               4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitaceae
               5- http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Cucurbitaceae
               6- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitoideae
               7- http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/cucurbit.htm
               8- http://science.jrank.org/.../Gourd-Family-Cucurbitaceae-Agricultural-species-gourds.html
               9- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica
               10- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia
See Video about: Growing Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd (Goya, Squash, Momordica charantia)
See Video about: Growing Bitter Melon
See Video about: Top 10 Health Benefits of Bitter Melon
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