Perennial climbers herbaceous or rarely perennial small shrubs belonging to the family cucurbitaceae.  Climber up to  8 m long which stems from a big ligneous rootstock. Leaves deeply lobate,  yellow male flowers, fruit with 8 crests.

Momordica pterocarpa is called bitter melon, as an unripe fruit is used as a folk remedy for tumors, asthma, skin infection, Gastointestinal problems, and hypertension. People use bitter melon for diabetes, stomach and intestinal problems, to promote menstruation, and many other conditions. There is no good scientific evidence to support these uses