Momordica dioica, commonly known as spiny gourd or spine gourd[2] or teasle gourd and also known as bristly balsam pear,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the Cucurbitaceae/gourd family.

It is dioecious, which means that it has distinct male and female individual organisms, hence its name.

[4] Momordica dioica is used as a vegetable in all regions of India and in South Asia.

It has commercial importance and is exported and used locally.

The fruits are cooked with spices, or fried and sometimes eaten with meat or fish.