BITTER GOURD

A slender annual climbing to two metres. The fruit looks like a light jade-coloured stalactite and is picked for the kitchen while still immature, hard and green.
Also called Bitter Cucumber and Basalm Pear, or Peria in Malaysia, Kiuri in Japan, Karawila in Ceylon. The Chinese say "Fu Kwa."

Plant Names
Botanical Family: 
CUCURBITACEAE
Common Name: 
BITTER GOURD
Genus: 
Momordica
Species: 
charantia
About the Name: 

from mordes, "to bite", because the seeds have the appearance of being bitten.

Origins: 

Tropics of Africa and Asia

Plant Description: 

A slender annual climbing to two metres. The fruit looks like a light jade-coloured stalactite and is picked for the kitchen while still immature, hard and green.
Also called Bitter Cucumber and Basalm Pear, or Peria in Malaysia, Kiuri in Japan, Karawila in Ceylon. The Chinese say "Fu Kwa."

Variety Notes: 

There are many varieties of bitter gourds, including white ones, such as Moonshine which has ivory white skin and is specially adapted to a greenhouse. Bengal Pride has smooth, dark green fruit and is the most productive of all varieties. In capital cities, look in Chinese and Vietnamese groceries for imported seed packets. Virtually every region of Asia has its own strain of bitter gourd, some of which may be growing on your street.

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