Food Plants International

226
Names
English: Spiny bitter cucumber Scientific name: Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng.
Tok pisin: Synonyms:
Tok ples: Plant family: Cucurbitaceae
Description: A coarse vine up to 15 m long. It keeps
growing from year to year. It climbs by means of
tendrils. It is slightly hairy. The leaves are 8 to 18 cm
long, and 8-20 cm across and deeply 3 lobed and the
base is heart shaped. Leaves are bright green. The leaf
stalks are 2-10 cm long. Male and female flowers are
separate on the same plant. Male flowers are 3.5 cm
across on stalks 5-30 cm long. The petals are pale
yellow. The female flowers are smaller. The fruit are
egg shaped, yellow and roughened with small bumps
scattered over it. They are edible.
Distribution: It suits tropical places. It occurs in the
Philippines and other areas of SE Asia.
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings of firm young growth.
Production:
Use: The young leafy shoots and fruit are eaten cooked.
The fruit are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible Moisture Energy Protein
part
Leaves
Fruit
% KJ g
Insects:
Diseases:
Pests:
Calcium
mg
Iron
mg
proVit A
µg
proVit C
mg
Importance: Fruit are sold in markets in Asian countries. It is probably rarely used in Papua
New Guinea.
Zinc
mg