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Bitter melon (Latin scientific name: Momordica charantia L), commonly known as skinny grapes, cold melon, skinny melon, etc., is a plant of the genus Momordica cucurbitaceae.
Bitter gourd is multi-branched, stems and branches are pubescent; tendrils are slender, undifferentiated, petioles are slender, leaves are membranous, green above, light green on the back, veins palmate; monoecious, ovary spindle-shaped, stigma enlarged; fruit spindle Shaped or cylindrical, multituberous and wrinkled, orange-yellow when mature, seeds oblong, with engravings on both sides. The flowering and fruiting period is from May to October.
It originated in the tropics, requires higher temperature, and is heat-resistant but not cold-resistant. However, through long-term cultivation and selection, it has strong adaptability and can adapt to 10-35°C. Native to East India, it is widely cultivated in tropical to temperate regions of the world. It is widely cultivated in the north and south of China.
Sweet and bitter fruit, mainly used as vegetables, can also be candied; ripe pulp and arils are also edible; roots, vines and fruits are used as medicine, and have the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying