bitter melon (Momordica charantia)
- Bitter melon is also known as bitter gourd, bitter squash, balsam-pear, goya, or karel, depending on where you are in the world.
- There are many varieties of this tropical or sub-tropical vine.
- A "typical" bitter melon looks something like an wrinkled cucumber, but tastes very bitter.
- There is also a completely different plant known as bitter melon in Australia. This is Citrullus lanatus.