Momordica dioica, commonly known as spiny gourd or spine gourd[2] or teasle gourd and also known as bristly balsam pear,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the Cucurbitaceae/gourd family. It is propagated by underground tubers. It has small leaves, small yellow flowers, it has small, dark green, round or oval fruits. It is dioecious, which means that it has distinct male and female individual organisms, hence its name.[4]
| Momordica dioica | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Genus: | Momordica |
| Species: | M. dioica
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| Binomial name | |
| Momordica dioica | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Uses
editMomordica dioica is used as a vegetable in all regions of India and in South Asia. It has commercial importance and is exported and used locally. The fruits are cooked with spices, or fried and sometimes eaten with meat or fish.
Gallery
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Halves and cross sections -
Flower -
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Affected by insects.
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References
edit- ^ a b "Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Momordica dioica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Momordica dioica". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ T. R. Gopalakrishnan, Vegetable Crops, p. 136, at Google Books