Contains 2 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
MOMORDICA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1009. 1753.
-
TYPE: Momordica balsamina Linnaeus Lectotypified by Britton & Millspaugh, Bahama Fl. 425. 1920.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Momordica balsamina | SOUTHERN BALSAMPEAR | Not Native | ||
| Momordica charantia | BALSAMPEAR | Not Native UPL (NWPL) Y |
Identification Key
1. Primary lobes of the leaf blade each often with large teeth or lobes that create a discernible sinus (apart from the sinus between the primary blade lobes); bract of staminate flower near the peduncle apex, <8 mm from the flower, usually denticulate
1. Primary lobes of the leaf blade each with shallow teeth or broad lobes that do not create a discernible sinus; bract of the staminate flower near the middle of the peduncle, >8 mm from the flower, entire
2
2. Fruit 2-7 cm long, 1.4-2 cm wide; seeds 5-9 mm long, 2.5-6 mm wide (wild form)
2. Fruit 10-35 cm long, 4-8 cm wide; seeds 10-16 mm long, 7-10 mm wide (domesticated form)
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eulenbergia | Eulenbergia Pax, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 39: 654. 1907. | TYPE: Eulenbergia mirabilis Pax | |
| Muricia | Muricia Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 542, 596. 1790. | TYPE: Muricia cochinchinensis Loureiro | |
| Nevrosperma | Nevrosperma Rafinesque, Amer. Monthly Mag. & Crit. Rev. 4: 40. 1818. | TYPE: Nevrosperma cuspidatum Rafinesque | |
| Zucca | Zucca Commerson ex Jussieu, Gen. Pl. 398. 1789. | TYPE: Zucca commersoniana Seringe |