Flora Zambesiaca

Taxon Detail

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FZ volume:4 part:0 (1978) Cucurbitaceae by C. Jeffrey

(Search other Kew databases for: Momordica charantia)

Momordica charantia L.

Sp. Pl. 1: 1009 (1753).?Hook. f. in F.T.A. 2: 537 (1871).?Ficalho, Pl. Ut. Afr. Port.: 188 (1884).?Hiern, Cat. Afr. Pl. Welw. 1, 2: 393 (1898).?Warb., Kunene-Samb.-Exped. Baum: 395 (1903).?Gibbs in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 37: 446 (1906).?Bremek. & Oberm. in Ann. Transv. Mus. 16: 436 (1935).?Meeuse in Bothalia 8: 51 (1962).?Keraudren in Fl. Madag., Cucurb.: 30 (1966); in Fl. Cameroun 6, Cucurb.: 172, t. 3 fig. 3, fig. 12 & t. 31 fig. 1?7 (1967).?C. Jeffrey in F.T.E.A., Cucurb.: 31 (1967).?Binns, H.C.L.M.: 43 (1968).?R. & A. Fernandes in C.F.A. 4: 263 (1970). Type a cultivated plant.

Synonyms:

Momordica charantia var. abbreviata Ser.

in DC., Prodr. 3: 311 (1828).?Hiern, loc. cit. Type from Ceylon.

Distribution:

Malawi

C: Salima Bay, fl. 29.ix.1935, Galpin 15032 (BOL).

N: Karonga Distr., 3 km. N. of Chilumba, St. Anne's, fl. & fr. 23.iv.1969, Pawek 2298 (K).

S: Ncheu, Kapeni stream, fr. 12.vii.1967, Jeke 100 (COI; K).

Mozambique

GI: Inhanombe, fl. 25.ii.1955, E. M. & W. 569 (BM; LISC; SRGH).

MS: Cheringomo, Inhamitanga, fr. 22.ix.1944, Simão 72 (LISC; LMA).

N: Johanna, fl. & fr. immat. xi.1862, Kirk (K).

T: Boroma Prov., Sisitso camp, Ulere Station, Messenguese R., fl. 11.vii.1950, Chase 2639 (K; SRGH).

Z: Maganja da Costa, 50 km. from Vila da Maganja towards the sea, fl. 12.ii.1966, Torre & Correia 14520 (LISC).

Zambia

B: Shangombo, fl. 8.viii.1952, Codd 7442 (K; PRE).

C: Mazabuka, 43 km. E. of Lusaka, by Kafue R., fl. 9.ii.1957, Noak 91 (K; SRGH).

E: Luangwa valley, 112 km. NW. of Lundazi, Chikwa, fl. & fr. immat. 3.vi.1954, Robinson 825 (K; SRGH).

N: Fort Rosebery, Lake Bangweulu, above Samfya beach, fl. & fr. immat. 8.ii.1959, Watmough 235 (COI; SRGH).

S: Gwembe valley, bank of Zongwe R., above Sinazongwe to Mwamba road, fl. & fr. 2.vii.1961, Angus 2955 (FHO; K; SRGH).

Zimbabwe

E: Umtali, fl. & fr. immat. 27.xii.1969, Chase 8575 (K; SRGH).

N: Urungwe, Sanyati-Chiroti confluence, fl. & fr. immat. 21.xi.1953, Wild 4225 (K; LISC; SRGH).

Range:

Pantropical, probably an introduction in the New World

Habitat:

Riverine fringes, lake margins, old cultivations 0?1650 m.

Description:

Stems prostrate or scandent to 5 m., sparsely to densely crispate-pubescent or villous, especially at nodes. Leaf-lamina 1?10 × 1?12·5 cm., broadly ovate to orbicular in outline, cordate, narrowly decurrent on to petiole, punctate and sparsely pubescent to densely villous on veins beneath, sparsely hirsute especially on veins above, deeply palmately 3?7-lobed, lobes variously sinuate-dentate or lobulate, acute to retuse, apiculate. Petiole 0·5?7 cm. long. Tendrils simple. Flowers monoecious, solitary. male flowers: peduncle 0·3?5 cm. long; bract 2?17 mm. long, broadly ovate or reniform, sessile, cordate, amplexicaul, obtuse or retuse, apiculate, green; pedicel 2?9·5 cm. long. Receptacle-tube 1?5 mm. long; lobes 3?7 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate. Petals 1·0?2·5 cm. long, pale to deep yellow, ovate to obovate. female flowers: peduncle 0·2?5 cm. long; bract 1?12 mm. long; pedicel 1?10 cm. long; ovary 8?11(30) × 2?4 mm., ovoid-rostrate to fusi-form, ridged, pilose on ridges, tuberculate; receptacle-tube 1?3 mm. long, lobes 2?5 mm. long, lanceolate; petals 0·7?1·2 cm. long. Fruit 2·5?4·8(11) × 1·5?2·3(4) cm., ovoid-rostrate or ellipsoid, longitudinally ribbed and tuberculate, bright orange-red, dehiscent into 3 valves; fruit-stalk 3·4?15 cm. long. Seeds 8?11 × 4·5?8 × 2?3·5 mm., enveloped in sticky red pulp, ovate-elliptic to oblong in outline; faces flattened, sculptured, with sinuate edges; margins grooved.

Flora Zambesiaca