132 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Momordica balsamina, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Ampalaya, Ampalea, Tag.; Amargoso, Sp.- 

 Fil.; Paria, Hoc; Apalia, Pam.; Balsamina, Sp.; Balsam 

 Apple, Eng. 



M. charanta, L. (M. muricata, Willd.; M. cylindrica, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulgl — The same as of M. balsamina. 



Uses. — The fruit of both varieties is edible, though a bitter 

 principle gives it such an intensely bitter taste that it is intol- 

 erable to the unaccustomed palate. It is eaten raw as a salad, 

 or cooked with meat or fish. The juice of the leaves is pre- 

 scribed internally as a purgative and anthelmintic. In Concan 

 it is given alone or combined with aromatics, in bilious dis- 

 orders as an emetic and purgative ; externally they use it as an 

 ointment for the itch and other skin diseases ; in India it is 

 mixed with cinnamon, pepper, rice and oil of Hydnocaipus 

 inebrians, Vahl. 



The fruit and leaves are used internally for worms and ex- 

 ternally for leprosy. Some Hindoo writers state that the fruit 

 is tonic and stomachic, and that it is useful in rheumatism, gout, 

 diseases of the liver and spleen. 



Botanical Description. — The first variety, M. balsamina, 

 more common than the second, is a vine with angular stem and 

 simple tendrils. Leaves, many serrate lobules with white dots 

 on the ends, Flowers yellow, monoecious. Staminate soli- 

 tary, peduncles very long, involucre cordate ; calyx 5-lobed ; 

 corolla 5 petals ; filaments simple, one separate, 2 approxi- 

 mated ; anthers joined at their bases. Pistillate solitary ; 

 ovary, 3 locules and numerous ovules ; stigma, 3 bifid divi- 

 sions ; fruit globose, narrowing at the ends, covered with tuber- 

 cles ; seeds numerous, lacking albumen, having red aril. 



The second variety, M. cylindrica, has a downy stem, 5- 

 angled with simple tendrils. The leaves are 5-lobuled, cordate, 



