Observe ⇒ Differentiate ⇒ Identify ⇒ NURTURE
Botanical Name: Momordica charantia
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 10:20 AM
Photo Description: None
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Common Name: कारल
Etymology - Genus: From the word to bite, reference to the seeds which look like they are bitten
Etymology - Species: A pre-Linnean name, used as the specific epithet of Momordica charantia
Ecosystem: Annual
Origin: Native
Location: India
Description: Annual climber, grows very rapidly completing its lifecycle with a season. Vine has a very delicate stem, with hairs.Simple leaf with a presence of tendril at the leaf node. Tendril coils around the support. New leaf also shows a foliaceous stipule.Pubescent leaf with 5-7 lobes.Male and female flowers appear singly in a leaf axil. Male with long peduncle and female wit short peduncle.Male and female flowers are born on same plant. Bright yellow colour flower look spectacular.Male flower has orange colour stamen. Female flower has a small oblong ovary below the calyx.Characteristic fruit with undulating surface. Fruit is oblong, tapering on both ends, sometimes curved.Many flat seeds are embedded in a pulp. When mature, the pulp turn red.
Root type: Taproot
Stem Appearance: Climber
Stem Cross Section: Circular
Stem Texture: Green, delicate, with hairs
Root-Stem-Bark Description: Annual climber, grows very rapidly completing its lifecycle with a season. Vine has a very delicate stem, with hairs.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2019 17:39 PM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 10:20 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2019 17:40 PM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 4 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2022 09:43 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 09:52 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 4 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2022 09:43 AM
Photo Description: None
Leaf - Characters
Attachment: Petiolate
Stipules: Tendrillar
Leaf Type: Simple
Phyllotaxy: Alternate-Spiral
Leaf Description: Simple leaf with a presence of tendril at the leaf node. Tendril coils around the support. New leaf also shows a foliaceous stipule.
Leaflet - Characters
Lamina: Palmate
Lamina Bases:
Lamina Margins: Serrate
Lamina Apices: Rounded apice
Lamina Texture: Pubescent
Venation: Reticulate-Unicostate
Leaflet Description: Pubescent leaf with 5-7 lobes.
Inflorescence - Characters
Inflorescence: Single Flower
Bract: Ebracteate
Inflorescence Description: Male and female flowers appear singly in a leaf axil. Male with long peduncle and female wit short peduncle.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 10:20 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 10:20 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2019 17:39 PM
Photo Description: Female flower
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2019 17:39 PM
Photo Description: Female flower
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 09:54 AM
Photo Description: Male Flower
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 1 Photo Date-Time: 12-Dec-2019 09:52 AM
Photo Description: Male Flower
Flower - Characters
Flower Type: Monoecious
Flower Symmetry: Actinomorphic
Thalamus Types:
Position of Whorls: Epigynous
Aestivation:
Flower Description: Male and female flowers are born on same plant. Bright yellow colour flower look spectacular.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 5 Photo Date-Time: 07-Dec-2022 10:22 AM
Photo Description: None
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 2 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2019 17:39 PM
Photo Description: Female flower
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 4 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2022 09:42 AM
Photo Description: Male Flower
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 4 Photo Date-Time: 06-Dec-2022 09:42 AM
Photo Description: Male Flower
Floral Parts - Characters
Calyx Arrangement: Actinomorphic gamosepalous
Calyx Persistance:
Calyx Number of sepals: 5
Corolla Arrangement: Actinomorphic gamopetalous
Corolla Appendages: na
Corolla Number of petals: 5
Perianth Arrangement: na
Perianth Number of tepals: na
Androecium Attachment of anther:
Androecium Length of filament:
Androecium Union of Stamens:
Androecium Number of Stamens: 3
Gynoecium Placentation:
Gynoecium Union of Carpels:
Gynoecium Number of Carpels:
Floral Parts Description: Male flower has orange colour stamen. Female flower has a small oblong ovary below the calyx.
Photo Credit: Mandar Joshi Record Count: 3 Photo Date-Time: 29-Jan-2020 08:47 AM
Photo Description: None
Fruit type: Berry
Fruit type Description: Characteristic fruit with undulating surface. Fruit is oblong, tapering on both ends, sometimes curved.
Seed Type: Dicotyledon
Germination type:
Dispersion Method:
Preprocessing for germination:
Germination time:
Seed shelf life:
Germination %:
Seed Description: Many flat seeds are embedded in a pulp. When mature, the pulp turn red.
