苦瓜原产印度东部,约在明代初传人我国南方,因果肉内含苦瓜苷,具有特殊的苦味而得名。苦瓜营养丰富,还具有药用价值。一、特征与特性苦瓜根系发达,侧根多,根群分布宽达1.3米以上,深达3米以上。茎为蔓生、五棱、浓绿色,有茸毛,分枝性强。初生叶对生、盾形;真叶互生,掌状深裂。花单性,雌雄同株异花,花冠黄色,雌花子房下位。果实形状纺锤形、短圆锥形、长圆锥形,表面有瘤状突起和 Bitter melon native to eastern India, about the early Ming Dynasty spread to people in southern China, the flesh contains bitter melon, bitter taste with a special name. Bitter melon nutritious, but also has medicinal value. First, the characteristics and characteristics Balsam pear rooted, lateral roots and more, the root mass distribution of 1.3 meters wide and above, up to 3 meters deep. Stems for the vine, five edges, dark green, hairy, branched and strong. Newborn leaves opposite, shield-shaped; true leaves alternate, palmately split. Flowers unisexual, hermaphrodite flower, corolla yellow, female flowers subfamily. Fruit shape spindle, short conical, long conical, surface tumorous protrusions and