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Enriched botanical record

Momordica balsamina

Momordica balsamina L.

Also indexed asAfrican cucumberbalsam applebalsam pearbalsaminasouthern balsam pearAfrican CucumberBalsam AppleBalsam Peer
FamilyCucurbitaceae
GenusMomordica
Use categories9
Linked notes0
Poison use is recorded for this taxon.This is a classification flag, not a dosage guide. Do not infer safe use from any documented-use label.

Botanical identity

This taxon is documented in the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species with a reported medicinal use. The record establishes a use report and botanical index entry, not clinical effectiveness or individual safety.

KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderCucurbitales
FamilyCucurbitaceae
GenusMomordica
Scientific name with authorshipMomordica balsamina L.

Indexed scientific synonyms

Cucumis agrestis Mill.Cucumis agrestis Mill. ex Cogn.Momordica charantia Descourt.Momordica garipensis E.Mey.Momordica garriepensis Arn.Momordica huberi Tod.Momordica involucrata E.Mey. ex Sond.Momordica schinzii Cogn.Momordica schinzii Cogn. ex SchinzNevrosperma cuspidata Raf.

Documented use categories

Medicine
Human food
Animal food
Environmental use
Gene source
Invertebrate food
Material
Poison reported
Social use

These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.

How to interpret this record

Evidence boundary

A taxonomic use record is a discovery and indexing signal. Clinical evidence must be assessed separately for the exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.

Safety boundary

Correct identification is essential. Toxicity, contraindications, interactions and safe preparation cannot be inferred from a documented-use record.

Dataset record and provenance

DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier293397-1
Use codesAF EU GS HF IF MA ME PO SU
Crop wild relativeNo

Contributing checklist sources

USDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Plant Resources for Tropical AfricaUseful Plant ProjectUseful Plants of West Tropical Africa

Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →

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Educational index, not a treatment recommendation

The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.

Ethnobotanical layer

Traditional-use records for Momordica balsamina.

Historical associations preserved from the USDA Dr. Duke dataset. These records are not treatment recommendations.