Refers to the plant Momordica charantia, known for its bumpy green fruit and bitter taste. Used in Okinawan and Asian cuisine.
Bitter melon is also called goya and is often used in Okinawan cuisine.
In summer, the bitter melon plants in the garden bear a lot of fruit.
Katakana spelling is standard for this plant name; the kanji form 蔓茘枝 is rare and mainly used in botanical contexts.
Rare kanji spelling; learners will almost always encounter the katakana form.
The name ツルレイシ literally means 'vine lychee' (蔓 = vine, 茘枝 = lychee), likely referring to the fruit's bumpy skin resembling a lychee. The exact origin of the name is uncertain.