Momordica dioica - Prickly Carolaho

❏ Binomial Name : Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd.

❏ Synonym : Bryonia grandis,Momordica hispida,Trichosanthes russeliana

❏ Family : Cucurbitaceae

❏ Common Name : Prickly Carolaho

❏ Tamil Name : Meluku pakal

❏ Hindi Name : Ban Karela

❏ IUCN status: Not Evaluated

Momordica dioica Botanical Description

Climbing herbs with tuberous roots; tendrils simple. Leaves 4-8 x 3-6 cm, broadly ovate, deeply 3-5-lobed, base cordate, margin denticulate, apex acute, membranous; petiole to 2.5 cm. Flowers dioecious, solitary, axillary. Male flowers with long peduncles with foliaceous bracts at apex; peduncle 4-6 cm long. Calyx tube c. 1 cm long, lobes linear, villous. Petals c. 2.5 x 1 cm, oblong, obtuse, yellow. Stamens 3, inserted at the mouth of calyx tube; one 1-celled, two 2-celled; staminodes of 2-3 glands. Ovary oblong with many horizontal ovules. Fruit c. 3 x 2.2 cm, ovoid, softly echinate. Seeds 6-7 x 5-6 mm, ovoid, emarginate, pale yellow. Fl. &Fr.: July-December.

Momordica dioica Medicinal uses

❀ Roots used in bleeding piles, bowel affections and urinary complaints

❀ The roots of female plants are larger than those of the male and are preferred for medicinal uses

❀ The root paste is applied over the body as a sedative in fever

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