colocynthis

Noun

colocynth (countable and uncountable, plural colocynths)

1. A viny plant, of species Citrullus colocynthis, native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia. It produces a lemon-sized, yellowish, green-mottled, spongy, and extremely bitter fruit.

   Synonyms:

   bitter apple, bitter cucumber, bitter melon, egusi, vine of Sodom, desert gourd

2. The powdered pulp of this fruit, a powerful hepatic stimulant and hydragogue cathartic used as a strong laxative.