<P> Momordica charantia , known as bitter melon , bitter gourd , bitter squash , or balsam - pear , is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae , widely grown in Asia , Africa , and the Caribbean for its edible fruit . Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit . Bitter melon also has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords , e.g. kǔguā ( 苦瓜 ) from Chinese , nigauri ( 苦瓜 ) from Japanese , gōyā ( ゴーヤー ) from Okinawan , kaipakka / paavakka ( കയ്പക്ക / പാവയ്ക്ക ) in Malayalam , kakarakaya ( కాకరకాయ ) in Telugu , Hāgala ( ಹಾಗಲ ) in Kannada , pākal ( பாகல் ) in Tamil and karela ( करेला and كاريلا ) or kareli ( करेली and کریلی ) in Hindustani ( Hindi and Urdu ) , coming from Sanskrit . In Bengali , it is known as uchche ( উচ্ছে ) . Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee . In Brazil this plant is called Saint Cajetan 's Melon ( melão - de-são - caetano ) . In Guyana the plant is referred to as corilla . In the Philippines it is called ampalaya or amargoso . </P>
<P> Momordica charantia , known as bitter melon , bitter gourd , bitter squash , or balsam - pear , is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae , widely grown in Asia , Africa , and the Caribbean for its edible fruit . Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit . Bitter melon also has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords , e.g. kǔguā ( 苦瓜 ) from Chinese , nigauri ( 苦瓜 ) from Japanese , gōyā ( ゴーヤー ) from Okinawan , kaipakka / paavakka ( കയ്പക്ക / പാവയ്ക്ക ) in Malayalam , kakarakaya ( కాకరకాయ ) in Telugu , Hāgala ( ಹಾಗಲ ) in Kannada , pākal ( பாகல் ) in Tamil and karela ( करेला and كاريلا ) or kareli ( करेली and کریلی ) in Hindustani ( Hindi and Urdu ) , coming from Sanskrit . In Bengali , it is known as uchche ( উচ্ছে ) . Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee . In Brazil this plant is called Saint Cajetan 's Melon ( melão - de-são - caetano ) . In Guyana the plant is referred to as corilla . In the Philippines it is called ampalaya or amargoso . </P>
what is the scientific name of bitter gourd
what is the scientific name of bitter gourd
Momordica charantia
Momordica charantia