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Javan Myna and Yellow-vented Bulbul eating Bitter Gourd fruit

on 10th April 2019
Plant.

The Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) is a slender climber (above). Like other members of the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae), the flowers are unisexual (below). Male and female flowers of the Bitter Gourd are found on the same plant.

Flower.

As implied by the common name, the fruits are bitter. As such, they are valued by many Southeast Asians as a tonic vegetable as well as folk medicine to treat diabetes, arthritis, rheumatism and asthma. The fruits, flowers and young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Unripe fruit.

The green fruits (above) turn orange as they ripen, then splitting open to expose the many seeds, each enclosed within a bright red pulp. The redness of the seed pulp no doubt attracts birds, in this case Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) and Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier). These birds swallow the seeds whole and thus help in dispersing the seeds.

From the video above, it is seen that both birds prefer the seed but the bulbul also goes for the soft inner tissues of the fruit wall, even after consuming a few seeds. Pecking at the soft tissues of the fruit wall required extensive swiping of the bill against the branches of the small Mulberry tree (Morus alba) that the Bitter Gourd twines round for support.

YC Wee
Singapore
7th April 2019

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

3 Responses

  1. Yes, the red fleshy pulp around the seed is the aril. It is sweet and edible but there are other reports that say it is poisonous. The next opportunity I come across a ripe fruit, I will taste tha aril.

  2. This morning there was a ripening fruit. It soon splitted at the bottom and all the seeds dropped onto the ground. Picked one seed, washed the soil away and tasted the red pulp. Sweetish, although not intensely sweet. My Filipina helper confirmed that the red aril is edible but not commonly eaten in her country.

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