Botany: Prostrate creeper or climber with simple tendrils. Stems,  petioles and tendrils rough backwardly pointed,bristly hairs. Leaves up to 10 x 9.5 cm, triangular to broadly ovate in outline, unlobed, or fairly shallowly 3 (5) lobed, more or less densely covered in bristly hairs on both surfaces, especially on the veins, lobes usually triangular, margins with small sinuate teeth. Flowers unisexual on the same plant, up to 1-2cm in diameter. Male flowers in 3-6 flowered axillary clusters. Female flowers solitary on pedicels 3-10 mm long; ovary densely bristly hairy. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 1.5-2.7 cm long.

In Rwanda, The plant is traditionally used  against cosiveness, poisoning and furuncles. It is furthermore used to treat epilepsy, frambesia and malaria.

The roots of Momordica foetida are used as a purgative. The leaves are unpleasantly scented and when crushed emit a pungent disagreeable smell. The crushed leaves are rolled up and stuck into the ear to alleviate the earache. Pregnant women  drink an infusion prepared from the leaves and roots of the plant and their use is attended with violent results, in which abortion may occur. An infusion from the roots is drunk for intestinal worm infection.

In the Ivory Coast a preparation of the leaves is used as an aphrodisiac and is taken by women as an emmenagogue and childbirth helper. In Uganda, tea from leaves or roots is used as an abortifacient and an ecbolic.