Balsam apple seeds

Balsam apple / Momordica balsamina - a perennial herbaceous monoecious vine (which can be grown as an annual) with a tuberous rhizome. The stems, up to 5 m long, climb supports with the help of tendrils. The leaves are deeply palmately divided, 5–7-lobed, with toothed margins. The flowers are regular, unisexual, white or cream-colored, and five-petaled.

The fruits are egg-shaped, bright orange or reddish-orange, and covered with sparse, short, blunt spines. When ripe, the fruit splits into three valves that open like petals, revealing seeds covered with a sticky, sweet, dark ruby-red aril. At this stage, the vine is exceptionally beautiful and exotic.

The leaves, young shoots, and green unripe fruits are cooked and eaten like spinach. Young leaves contain vitamin C. The ripe red pulp covering the seeds can also be eaten, but in large quantities it has a laxative effect. The ripe orange flesh of the fruit itself is not eaten because it is bitter and may cause poisoning. However, it is used to prepare medicinal products with unique properties.

May also be called: balsam pear, balsam cucumber, apple of Peru.