A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

What is the classification of a bitter melon?

Best Answers

There is no such thing as a “vegetable” scientifically. It's a culinary classification. Still in culinary terms, we tend to associate “fruits” with sweetness. Now from a botanic standpoint, “fruits” are the seed-bearers of flowering plants. read more

Bitter melon is both. It's certainly a fruit botanically speaking because it derives from a flower and usually bears seeds. And it can be a vegetable since any part of any plant can be a vegetable. Including roots, stems, tubers, leaves, flowers and fruits. Vegetable is not a botanical classification. It's cultural, culinary. read more

The common name bitter gourd is used in the United States to refer to the bitter melon (Momordica charantia). It is also called balsam pear. A member of the squash family (Cucurbitaceae), bitter melon is widely used in Asian cooking and available in the United States in Asian markets. read more

Bitter melon is a vegetable used in India and other Asian countries. The fruit and seeds are used to make medicine. People use bitter melon for diabetes, stomach and intestinal problems, to promote menstruation, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. read more

Encyclopedia Research

Wikipedia:

Related Question Categories