Momordica denticulata
Content
Description
Perennial climber to 8 m long, most parts (excluding inflorescences) glabrous, older bark whitish grey, fissured, not tuberculate;
Leaves:
Flowers very like those of M. cochinchinensis, somewhat scabrous or hairy, in male solitary or up to 30 grouped in bracteate racemes to 5(-15) cm long;
Fruit ripening green-yellow or red, (ovoid-)ellipsoid-oblong, 8-14 by 5-10 cm, apex narrowed into 10(-15) mm long beak, exocarp ± leathery, without ornamentation, sometimes minutely scabrid;
Seeds numerous, brown blackish, compressed, subcircular, cogwheel-shaped, 20-30 mm across, 6-7 mm thick;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present), North and Central Sumatra present, South Kalimantan absent, most of Borneo present
North and Central Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, most of Borneo (not known from South Kalimantan).
Taxonomy
Momordica denticulata is similar to M. cochinchinensis, especially in the male flowers, but is quite different in general appearance of the leaves, which are about twice as long as broad, somewhat chartaceous, glossy green with finer venation, the petioles shorter with the glands in the apical part, and in the fruit, which is ellipsoid, almost smooth.
Citation
Cogn. & Harms 1924 – In: Engl., Pflanzenr. 88: 31
Merr. 1921: Enum. Born. Pl.: 583
Cogn. & Harms 1924 – In: Engl., Pflanzenr. 88: 39
Cogn. 1881 – In: A.DC. & C.DC., Monogr. Phan. 3: 447
Cogn. & Harms 1924 – In: Engl., Pflanzenr. 88: 32
W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes 2002 – In: Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & St. Petersburg): 139
Merr. 1921: Enum. Born. Pl.: 583