Saturday 2 February 2019

Momordica charantia : Forms and Sizes



Bitter gourd ( Momordica charantia ) comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, with colour ranging from green to white.



The cultivar common in China ( M. charantia forma charantia ) is 20–30 cm long, oblong with bluntly tapering ends and pale green in color, with a gently undulating, warty surface.   



The Indian variety ( M. charantia forma abbreviata ) has a narrower shape with pointed ends, and a surface covered with jagged, triangular "teeth" and ridges.

  

Between these two extremes are any number of intermediate forms.  Some bear miniature fruit of only 6–10 cm in length. 


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