A common question these days is “What are those musky vines
with yellow flowers covered with weird orange, ridged fruit?” This
question is often accompanied by a photo showing an invasive plant that is
practically everywhere – the balsam pear (Momordica charantia). An
annual relative in the cucumber family, balsam-pear or balsam-apple is a weedy
invasive vine which hides in plain sight until you notice those bright orange
fruits. Then you say, “What is it?”
According to the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC)
the balsam apple/pear (Momordica charantia) is considered a
Category II Invasive Plant. Category II means that “Invasive exotics that
have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant
communities to the extent shown by Category I species. These species may become
ranked Category I, if ecological damage is demonstrated.” Its widespread nature
and ability to grow up and over nearly every fence or plant encountered clearly
shows its tendency to monopolize an area. Originally from Africa and
Southeast Asia, the balsam pear was brought to Europe in the early 1700’s and
has since become a nuisance plant in Florida. The local wild balsam-pear
should not be used for food as it does possess toxic properties. This
invasive weed is not to be confused with the edible version cultivated for
Asian cuisine called the Chinese bitter melon. The Chinese bitter melon
is much longer with light green to white knobby skin and can be grown like a
cucumber on a trellis.
The balsam-pear is an annual vine which sprouts from a
fairly large seed in the spring and throughout the summer months. The
fuzzy-stemmed vine grows many feet long as it clambers over everything in its
way using coiling tendrils for support. The palm-shaped leaves are
lobed, about three inches wide, and alternately arranged on the stem.
Eventually the vine produces yellow, ruffled flowers – some are male, some are
female. Once pollenated, the female flowers develop a lumpy green fruit
with a pointed end. This ridged, several inch long fruit eventually
ripens to a bright orange color. The fruit then bursts open showing an
orange and red interior. The mature seeds are then ready to drop and
infest a new area. When grasped in the hand, the balsam-pear vine gives
off a musky, distinct scent that is like no other.
While balsam-pear can quickly overwhelm a fence or group of
shrubs, hand-picking the vines before they flower and set fruit will help
begin to suppress this pest. As the balsam-pear vine and other valued
plants are often intertwined, the use of herbicides in this situation is not
recommended. If there was a pure stand of balsam-pear, the use of the
non-selective herbicide glyphosate would work as a control when applied as per
label directions. Otherwise, hand-picking should eventually rid you of
this weed.
If the weedy nature of the balsam-pear is not enough reason
to eliminate it, this plant can also act as a reservoir of certain insect-borne
plant viruses such as Zucchini yellow mosaic virus and Papaya ringspot
virus Type W. In any case, the removal of balsam-pear will pay off with a
manageable and sustainable landscape. For more information on all
types of weeds and their management, please call our Master Gardener volunteers
on the Plant Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at
764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension
volunteer. Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the
area. Please check this link for a complete list of site locations, dates
and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.
Resources:
Culbert, D. F. (1999) Balsam Apple: Weed or Vegetable? The
University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS – Okeechobee County.
Goyal, G., Gill, H. K. & McSorley, R. (2015) Common Weed
Hosts of Insect-Transmitted Viruses of Florida Vegetable Crops. The University
of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2015 List of Invasive
Plant Species. (FLEPPC) http://www.fleppc.org/list/2015FLEPPCLIST-LARGEFORMAT-FINAL.pdf.
YES! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteIs it true that when balsam pear is ripe,its toxins?
ReplyDeleteIs this vine poisonus to dogs? I just lost one that seemed to be poisoned. I just pulled this vine and it's fruit off my fence.
ReplyDeleteIs this vine poisonus to dogs? Just had one die and seems it was poisoned. Please help. Don't want to suspect my neighbor.
ReplyDeleteGlad I found this as my son has one volunteering in a plant pot on his front step. The vine is very delicate and pretty, but it has already had 2 ripe fruit.
ReplyDeleteThank you - very informative link. So what I refer to as bitter gourd or 'karela' in S.E Asia (which looks very similar), is the variety that is green and used in Asian cuisine, and is NOT this invasive variety. Good to know.
ReplyDeleteOkay so A neighbor of mine showed me that you have to wait for the fruit to ripen. Which is when he told me that it's healthy to suck on the juices. Now I'm confused because I have one of these in my back yard and I suck on the fruit everyday.
ReplyDeleteI meant to ask is it really toxic? Or am I okay.
DeleteResponded below,when ripe only the flesh surrounding the seed and not the seed or gourd flesh is edible.
DeleteThe warty gourd is edible when green (and cooked) but turns toxic/medicinal when orange ripe. It then splits characteristically into three parts, revealing red arils (fleshy seed covers). The ripe seeds inside the arils and orange flesh of the gourd are toxic and can make one violently lose fluids from both ends, and induce abortions. The red arils around the seeds, however, are edible. And note this: The arils are 96% lycopene, which gives them their color. Just remember to spit out the seed from each aril.
ReplyDelete