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*Momordica charantia Linnaeus ssp. charantia. Common name: Balsam-pear, Balsam-apple, Bitter Melon, Cerasee, Asosi. Phenology: Apr-Nov. Habitat: Disturbed areas, roadsides, fence-rows. Distribution: Native of Africa. Reported for Panhandle FL by Anderson (2007) and Kunzer et al. (2009), and for Alabama by Diamond (2021).

Origin/Endemic status: Subsaharan Africa

Taxonomy Comments: An additional subspecies, ssp. macroloba Achigan-Dako & Blattner, is known from wc. Africa.

Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA6, POWO; = n/a — C, Pa; < Momordica charantia L. — Bah, Fl2, K4, Meso4.1, NE, NS, S, Tx, WH3. Basionym: Momordica charantia L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Momordica charantia ssp. charantia - FNA6

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL (name change)
  • Great Plains: FACU (name change)
  • Midwest: FACU (name change)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (name change)

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Horticultural Information

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