Momordica charantia L.

• Region

  South America

• Country

  Brazil

• State/Province

  Maranhão

• County/Municipio

  Lorêto Mun.

• Locality

  "Ilha de Balsas" region, between the Balsas & Parnaíba Rivers. Next to main house of Fazenda "Morros", ca. 35 km south of Lorêto.

• Elevation

  Alt. 300 m. (984 ft.)

• Coordinates

  -7.38, -45.07

• Distribution

  Map all specimens of this taxon

Momordica charantia L.
det. M. Nee, 1985
FLORA OF BRAZIL
STATE OF MARANHÂO
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
01006596
YOf?
BOTANICAL
garder
Moaordioa oharantia L.
(dup.det.L.B.Smith & D*H*3Üicolson, 1966)
; Municipio de Lorêto: “Ilha de Balsas” région, between the Rios
Balsas and Parnaiba. Next to xflfc main house of Fazenda
“Morros”, about 35 km. south of LORÊTO. Alt. ca. 300 m.
ca. 7°23 ’s., 45° U *w.	13 May 1962
Main vegetation types of region: (1) “chapada”, a semi-closed tree woodland (or
"cerradâo”) on flat tops & steep sides of plateaus, vn ntoop""hiHy.'-IftaW»«».»nd. on
some areas of rolling or flat dry land; (2) “tabuleiro”, a semi-closed woodland,
or “cerradâo”, of different physiognomy & species composition, on tops of hilly
or gently rolling land; (3) “mata’', a closed tropical forest of many tree species,
usually with palms, in flat stream valleys and in or alongside of brook ravines &
courses; (4) “caatinga”, a semi-open forest of few forest tree species on low
moist flat land and in narrow valleys between “tabuleiro”-covered hills; (5) “var-
Jâo”, low moist flat land with scattered forest trees of one or a few species;
(6) “cocal”, thick groves of babaçu palm on flat river plain of Bio Parnaiba and
some of its tributary streams.M ¿HUvegetation types completely deciduous during
dry season. All brooks intermittent. Annual ground fires and cattle grazing in
all areas. Part of “tabuleiro” cut over, forming treeless grassy areas; most
“mata” and much “caatinga” & “varjâo” cultivated or abandoned, forming dense
secondary vegetation of low trees & tall shrubs (“capoeira”); some areas of
“chapada” with dense secondary vegetation (“carrasco”). Upland soils grayish,
tan, or light reddish brown silt or silty clay, very stony on slopes; lowland soils
mostly reddish brown to black silt loam, silty clay loam or clay loam, without
stones. Country rock horizontal light brown sandstone, exposed only on tops
of morros and on cliffs along the Rio Parnaiba.
This habitat: on pasture fence, near kitchen*
Herbaceous vine, dense growth, FIs* 1 1/2 - U cm.diam. I
Male fls.s petals yellow, filaments light green, anthers'
golden-yellow. Female fis*: Petals yellow, styles light!
green. Ripe fruit yellow, from 2 1/2 cm long lay 1 cm I
. diam., up to 7 cm long by 2 1/2 cm diam. (main part of 1
fruit measured). Seed pulp reddish. Some frts. collecJ
leg. George Eiten and Liene T. Eiten, no. 4-571
ted still closed & same that had already split open* [
Distributed by the Instituto de Botánica, sáo Paulo
01006596