Momordica - Momōrdica - #ccc

Recently, I started to meet fruits in the bazaar, which I had never seen before in Moldova. They seem to look like something in between a cucumber and a melon, but with large growths in the form of thorns. The color of these fruits is yellow-orange.

I was wondering what kind of exotic it was, and how it turned out to be on sale, next to the usual vegetables and fruits.

I was told that this fruit is called Momōrdice and it has been grown in Moldova in its gardens for several years .. I set out to learn more about this interesting plant.

So, inside this fruit, there are bright red berries. If they can be called so. It is a fleshy shell of seeds. The seeds are very large and very hard. The fruit itself is hollow inside.

This plant is a relative of a pumpkin. It is sometimes called bitter gourd, or bitter cucumber. It's strange that the name is associated with the envelope of the fruit, and not the delicacy that red berries are.

This plant is considered medicinal, especially it is recommended to patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus. Apparently, the substances that are contained in this fruit, or vegetable, I did not understand, this fruit, or vegetable, allows you to better assimilate various sugars, the human body.

For medical purposes, the entire plant is used, from roots to leaves. It helps to cope with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and expels from the body helminths.

The planting of this plant is also interesting. Before planting the seed, it must be soaked in water, which would soften, then, a little to split the seed. this will facilitate the release of the sprout. Then, everything is like cucumber. Growing seedlings, and when it gets stronger. it is planted in an open ground.

It is a liana, long, up to 15 meters in length. It is advisable to provide for supports and allow the plant to curl.

I will definitely put such exotic things in my garden!

Photos taken with a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 camera
Author @barski
Moldova

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