18 
TRICHOSANTHES colubrina. 
The Serpent Cucumber, or Hairblossom. 
MONCECIA TRIANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. CUCURBITACE X. (Cucursirs, Vegetable Kingdom, p. 311.) 
TRICHOSANTHES, Linn.—Flores monoici v. interdum dioici. Masc. 
Calyx subclavato-campanulatus, quinquefidus. Corolla calyci inserta, quin- 
quepartita, laciniis integris v. bifidis, fimbriato-ciliatis. Stamina 5, ime 
corolle inserta; filamenta triadelpha, anthere coalitae, extrorsse, mutic®, 
loculis longitudinalibus gyroso-flexuosis. Fem. Calyx tubo oblongo v. 
ovato, cum ovario connato, limbo supero, guinguedentato. Corolla maris. 
Ovarium inferum, triloculare, placentis juxta septa parietalibus, multiovulatis. 
Stylus trifidus; stigmata oblongo-subulata. Bacea oblonga vel subglobosa, 
pulposa, polysperma. Semina ovata, compressa, marginibus acuta. Em- 
MT II Herbs annue vel perennes, cirrhose, in Asia et America 
tropica crescentes ; foliis alternis, integris v. palmatilobis, floribus masculis 
racemosis v. rarius solitariis, femineis plerumque solitariis, interdum racemosis. 
Endl. gen. no. 5140. 
Tr. colubrina (“ Jacq. f. eclog. t. 128.” DC. Prodr. 3. 314.) ; caule sulcato 
crassiusculo, cirrhis bifidis, foliis cordato-subrotundis indivisis et 3-5- 
lobatis lobis brevibus latis dentatis integrisque, floribus masculis pani- 
eulatis, pedunculo communi longissimo, foemineis sessilibus solitariis v. 
cum masculis in eádem axilla, calyce longissimo, limbo reflexo, fructu 
subtereti lineato longissimo contorto rostrato, seminibus obovatis 
fuscis. 
Flores corymbosi. Masc. Calyx infundibularis, sepalis 5 ovatis ciliatis 
reflexis. Petala 5, basi connata, ciliata, elongata, lanceolata, multifida, post 
anthesin involuta. Stamina 9, filamentis liberis filiformibus, antheris in 
eylindrum brevem connatis. —— Fem. Sepala dentiformia. Petala longiora 
et angustiora decidua. Ovarium fusiforme, elongatum, junioris Sabricá om- 
nino Cucumeris. Stylus subulatus, levis, intra tubum calycis inclusus. 
Stigma 6-lobum, laciniis vald? inequalibus, nunc, (an semper ?) brevibus, 
obtusis, per paria recurvis. 
We believe that the sole possessor of this curious plant is 
Sir John Hay Williams, Bart., of Bodelwyddan, near St. 
Asaph, to whom we are indebted for a specimen, and the 
accompanying sketch from the accomplished pencil of Lady 
Sarah Williams. The seeds had been received from Puerto 
Caballo, in equatorial America, and under the care of Mr. 
April, 1846. H 
