Momordica clarkeana

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Momordica clarkeana

Description

Climber 6-8 m long, perennial; (sub)glabrous; Leaves: Flowers in male (solitary or) 2-4 fascicled, the fascicles subaxillary to reduced leaves, usually arranged in loose raceme-like lateral shoots to 10 cm long; Fruit solitary (or rarely 2 per node), ripening orange or red, (broadly) ovoid, or pear-shaped, 4.5-7 by 3.5-5 cm, base and apex broadly rounded apex 2-3 mm beaked, smooth, glabrous or with few minute sharp tubercles; Seeds few (c. 6), (black-)brown, elliptic or subcircular, thickish, 15-18 mm across;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present), Kelantan present, Perak present
Endemic to Peninsular Malaysia (Perak and Kelantan).

Morphology

2 This is a rare species characterized by its fruit. Male flowers, however, are poorly known and female flowers still unknown. 1 The cogwheel-shaped seeds of M. clarkeana resemble those of M. cochinchinensis, but the former are smaller.

Citation

Cogn. & Harms 1924 – In: Engl., Pflanzenr. 88: 39
W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes 2002: p. 135. – In: Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & St. Petersburg): f. 1
Ridl. 1922 – In: Fl. Malay Penin.: 848