1.2- Species Momordica balsamina L. - Balsam apple + Overview Momordica charantiais a tendril-bearing annualvinenative to the tropical regions of Africa, introduced andinvasivein Asia, Australia, and Central America. It has pale yellow, deeply veinedflowersand round, somewhat warty, bright orangefruits, or "apples". When ripe, the fruits burst apart, revealing numerous seeds covered with a brilliant scarlet, extremely sticky coating. The balsam apple was introduced into Europeby 1568 and was used medicinally to treat wounds. In 1810,Thomas Jeffersonplanted this vine in his flower borders atMonticelloalong withlarkspur,poppies, and nutmeg. The outer rind and the seeds of the fruit are poisonous. + Names Momordica balsaminaand the related Momordica charantia share some common names: "African cucumber", "balsam apple", and "balsam pear". Other names for Momordica balsamina are "balsamina" or "southern balsam pear". It is known in Africa under a broad range of names, e.g. in Mozambique as cacana and in South Africa as nkaka. About the name Balsam apple Balsam applemay refer to: Clusia major, a tree species found in America Momordica balsamina, a vine species found in Africa Momordica charantia(bitter melon), a vine grown for its bitter and edible fruit Echinocystis lobata(wild cucumber) Echinopepon. Source: Balsam apple - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balsam_apple.
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