Ethnobotanical investigations in the genus Momordica L. in the Southern Western Ghats of India

Western Ghats, one of the megadiversity hotspots, hold a rich treasure of diversity in Momordica L. comprising M. charantia var. muricata, M. charantia var. charantia, M. dioica and M. sahyadrica. Vernacular names of these species vary from place to place. Traditional uses of these species comprising food, medicinal and cosmetic, culinary preparations, vernacular names in local dialects and taboos and religious beliefs relating to their domestication and folk taxonomy are dealt with in this paper.