Momordica Charantia, Known As bitter Melon, bitter Gourd, bitter Squash, Or balsam-pear Royalty-Free Stock Image

This herbaceous, tendril-bearing vine grows up to 5 m & x28;16 ft& x29; in length. It bears simple, alternate leaves 4–12 cm & x28;1.6–4.7 in& x29; across, with three to seven deeply separated lobes. Each plant bears separate yellow male and female flowers. In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs during June to July and fruiting during September to November. The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith. The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow