Scientific Name
Momordica charantia
Common Name
Balsam pear, bitter gourd

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Cucurbitaceae
Plant Description
Annual, climbing vine; leaves alternate, foul-smelling, deeply palmately lobed; flowers yellow, tubular; fruit a berry, yellow-orange, warty, with red pulp around seeds.
Origin
Tropical Africa, Asia, Australia
Distribution
Coastal Plain.
Where Found
Weedy in disturbed areas, escaped from cultivation and naturalized.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Outer fruit coat, seeds, ripe fruit.
Symptoms
Headache, salivation, facial redness, pupil dilation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscular weakness.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Cooked leaves, drained of liquid, are safe to eat as greens.
Toxic Principle
Resin, saponic glycoside, and alkaloids.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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