333 



MOMORDICA, Linn. 



Momordica balsamina, Linn. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 537. 



Ill— Lam. Encycl. t. 794 (Momordica) f. 1 ; Diet. Sc. Nat. tt. 

 208, 209 ; Gard. Chron. April 22nd, 1848, p. 271 ; Rev. Hort. 1857, 

 p. 182, f. 75 ; 1859, p. 631, f. 135 (fruit). 



Vernac. names. — Garafini (Katagum, Dalziel) — Balsam Apple. 



Katagum. Widely distributed in the tropics and sub-tropics. 

 Cultivated in America. 



The leaves are used as soap in Katagum (Dalziel, Herb. Kew). 

 An infusion of the fruit in olive or almond oil is applied to chapped 

 hands, burns, old sores, &c, and the fruit mashed is sometimes used 

 in the form of a poultice (Gard. Chron. April 22nd, 1848, p. 271 ; 

 Wood & Bache, Disp. U.S. America, 1854, p. 1361) ; used also for the 

 cure of wounds in Syria — cut open when unripe, infused in sweet 

 oil, and exposed to the sun for some days until the oil becomes red 

 (Loudon, Encycl. PL p. 808 ; Moloney, For. W. Afr. p. 359 ; Diet. 

 Econ. Prod. India). 



Momordica Charantia, Linn. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 537. 



Ill — Commelin, Hort. Med. Amstel. PL i. t. 54 (Balsamina, 

 cucumerina indica) ; Rheede, Hort. Mai. viii. t. 9 ; Rumpf. Amb. v. 

 t. 151 (Amara indica} ; Lam. Encycl. t. 794 (Momordica), f. 2 ; Bot. 

 Mag. t, 2455 ; Bot. Reg. (1826) t. 980 (Cucumis africanus) ; Wight, 

 Ic. PL Ind. Or. ii. t. 504 ; Wight, Illust, t. 105 bis ; FL des Serres, t. 

 1047 ; Rev. Hort. 3859, p. 630, f. 134, p. 631, f. 135a ; Duthie, Field 

 Crops, t. 64 ; L'Agric. prat, pays chauds, vii. i, p. 321 ; Thonner, 

 Blutenpfl. Afr. t. 148 ; Rechinger, Bot. Zool. Eng. Samoa, N. Guinea, 

 Solomon Is. iii. p. 206 (habit). 



Vernac. names. — Ejirin (Lagos, MacGregor, Dawodu, Punch) ; 

 Ako Ejirin (Yoruba, Oshogbo, Moloney, Millson) ; Garafini (Nupe, 

 Barter) ; Margose (Mauritius, Johnston) ; Cundeamor (Porto Rico, 

 Cook & Collins)\ Kakorah (Jhelum, Aitchison); Karelu (Saharanpur, 

 Duthie) ; [Cundeamor (Cuba, Porto Rico) ; Ampalia (Philippines) ; 

 Balsamina, Amargosa (Spanish) Safford] ; [Cerasee (Jamaica) ; 

 Condeamor (Venezuela) Moloney] ; Sorossi (French Guiana, Meckel). 



Balsam Apple, Balsam Pear, African Cucumber, Tubercuiated 



Momordica. 



Lagos ; Yoruba ; Nupe ; Kouka [Kuka]. Widely distributed in 

 the tropics. Cultivated throughout India. 



The fruit is described as bitter, but not unwholsome. It is recom- 

 mended to be steeped in salt water before cooking (Moloney, For. 

 W. Afr. p. 358 ; Safford, PL Guam, p. 326). Eaten in curries, or 

 sliced and dried, in India (Diet. Econ. Prod. India). The tuber is 

 eaten by the natives, Jhelum District (Aitchison, Mus. Kew). 



A decoction of the leaves is used as a stomachic, in Lagos (Punch, 

 Herb. Kew) ; said to be used as a substitute for hops by the Dutch 

 (Watson, Gard. Mag. Dec. 15, 1894, p. 759). 



Medicinally the plant is used much like M. balsamina, French 

 Guiana (Heckel, Ann. Inst. Col. Marseille, iv. 1897, p. 144) ; Guam 

 (Safford, I.e.) ; and in India (Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod.), various 

 medicinal uses are attributed to all parts of the plant. 



Under cultivation there are several varieties known. In India 

 two are distinguished as the rainy season variety (" Kareli ") ami the 

 dry season variety (" Karela ") (Duthie, seq.). 



See end of CucurbilaccaeioY cultural details. 



