Bitter Gourd
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), is also known as the Bitter Melon plant or the Balsam Pear. It is an aggressive, climbing vine that has become a problem in many parts of Australia.
Jerry Spencer 
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), is also known as the Bitter Melon plant or the Balsam Pear. It is an aggressive, climbing vine that has become a problem in many parts of Australia.
While it is grown as a vegetable in some countries, in Australia it tends to quickly spread. It then smothers other plants, and competes with both crops and native species.
What is Bitter Gourd?
It is a climbing vine from the cucumber family. The Balsam Pear produces bright yellow flowers that are about 2 cm across. It has distinctive a green, warty fruit that splits open to reveal bright red seeds when the fruit matures.
Key Features of Bitter Gourd
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It has a climbing, twining growth habit that smothers other plants.
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Bitter Melon has lobed leaves that look like the leaves of a cucumber plant.
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It produces bright yellow flowers and then an elongated, bumpy fruit.
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The fruit of the Balsman Pear turns orange, and then bursts open when it is ripe.
Where Bitter Gourd Grows in Australia.
This weed thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. In Australia, it is common in:
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Northern QLD.
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NSW.
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NT.
