Common Name:

General Information

Momordica angustisepala is a large climbing plant with stout stems. The stems scramble over the ground or climb into the surrounding vegetation where they attach themselves by means of tendrils[],
The plant is harvested from the wild for its stems, which are used to make sponges. It is sometimes cultivated for these stems in Ghana[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Cameroon.

Habitat

Usually found in closed, deciduous and semi-deciduous forest. It also occurs at the edge of secondary forest or in old plantations, disturbed areas and roadsides[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The root extract is used as an abortifacient in traditional medicine in South Nigeria[].
The root contains oxytocic compounds which may be useful in the development of contraceptive methods in medicine[].

Other Uses

The stem is used as a washing and bathing sponge[]. Sponges are obtained by pounding the thick stem, washing out the impurities to leave only the white fibres and then drying them[, ].
After maceration, the stem is used as a filter for palm oil and palm wine[].
The stem is also used for making woven masks for masquerades[].

The decorticated and washed twigs are chewed[]. Is this as a chew stick for cleaning the teeth and gums?[].

Propagation

Seed -
The reproductive biology of the species is not well documented and requires further study. Reproductive organs are scarcely found, and one may speculate that the plant preferentially reproduces vegetatively[].

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