Bitter gourd

Catalogue Type

Seed Catalogue

Scientific Name

Momordica charantia

Family

Cucurbitaceace

Distinguishing Characters

Bitter gourd seeds are large, flat, tortoise shell-like, yellow, thick seed coat, the surface pattern, each fruit contains seeds from 20 to 30, weight 150 to 180 g per 1000seeds.

Photo of Seed

Description

The immature fruit is green with white seeds.

The fruit turns orange when mature and splits open from top down to reveal bright red seeds.

The immature fruits are often cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are rich in vitamins A and C.

The fruits are used in folk medicine to treat diabetes. Its juice is applied externally to treat skin disorders and its juice is drunk as a cure for arthritis, rheumatism and asthma.