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Momordica dioica
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Family:
CUCURBITACEAE
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Citation: Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd., Sp. Pl. 4: 605.1805; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 2:617.1879; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 531(375). 1919; Chakrav., Fasc. Fl. Ind. 11: 94. 1982; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 195. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 178. 1985; Ramach. & V.J. Nair, Fl. Cannanore Dist. 200. 1988; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 214. 1990; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 204. 1996; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 294. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 155. 1998; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 135. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 236. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 322. 2009; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 392. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Erimappasai, Erimapasel, Erumpavel, Kattuppavel, Kattupadavalam, Machippavel, Undapaval, Vempaval, Vennpavel
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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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.
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Habit:
Climber
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Flowering & Fruiting:
July-December
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, also in the plains
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Distribution:
Indo-Malesia and China
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Yellow
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Sholayar, Uppupara, Orukomban, Moozhiar, Sabarimala, Ambayathode, Taliparamba, Panathur, Ayyappankovil, Mukkali forests, Venmony, Nadugani ghats, Vadapuram, Edacode
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