30 



cells of the stems are short, colorless, often much contracted at the 

 joints ; this feature causes some parts of the filaments to have a strik- 

 ing resemblance to forms of Drapariialdia, 



The bruits of Cucurbita. 



By C. C. Parry. 



(Plate XIV.) 



It naturally happens that the fruits, even of common plants, 

 especially those of a fleshy or bulky character, are poorly repre- 

 sented in herbaria. In consequence of this fact, the descriptions in 

 systematic works are often defective in this imporkint . particular. 

 I propose, as a small contribution towards supplying such defects, 

 to present some outline sketches, and diagnostic characters of three 

 species of Cncurbita that have lately come under my notice. 



In all the generic descriptions of Cttcurbita, the fruit is repre- 

 sented as three-celled, /. c, with three placentas. 



It is now over thirty years since my attention was cursorily called 

 to the fact that a species of Cucurbita^ not uncommon in the vicinity 

 of San Diego, California, was quite constantly 5-celled. From want 

 of sufficient material this species remained unnoticed, till lately 

 described by Mr. Watson as Cucurbita palmata, but without hi's 

 noticing its 5-celled fruit. 



Another still older species, of Arizona, Cucurbita digitaia, Gray, 

 is also found to possess the same character, having 5 placentas. It is 

 perhaps something more than a coincidence, that both these species, 

 as well as the doubtful Cucurbita Calif ornica^ Watson, have five- 

 lobed leaves, as distinguished from Cucurbita pcrennis, Gray, in 

 which the leaves are triangular, and the fruit normally 3-celled. 

 The accompanying sketches (all natural size) will help to exhibit 

 these characters, and also show the usual variation in size of fruit 

 and seed. 



Referring to each in regular order we note the following diag- 

 nostic characters : ■ 



Cucurbita perennis^ Gray. — Fruit orbicular, medium size, 2-2-I 

 inches in diameter, normally 3-celled (occasionally, in large speci- 

 mens, 4-celled); outside marking lemon-yellow on a greenish ground, 

 longitudinal lines irregular, ?. ^., not corresponding to internal di- 

 visions ; placentas thin, separating at maturity; seed unevenly 



curved, its length 4-5 lines, about twice its breadth, with raised 

 margins, 



J Cucurbita digiiata, Gray.— Fruit rather flattened, orbicular, 2-3 



mches m diameter, normally 5-celled, (rarely 6); outside marking 

 brownish yellow, the longitudinal lines very distinct, corresponding 

 closely to the 10 mternal divisions, the lines corresponding to the 

 thickened placentas being the broadest; seeds evenly ovate light 

 brown, 4-5 hnes long, less than one-half the breadth, thick, without 

 raised margms. 



Cucurbita MImata^\:,i^ox^.^^^ orbicular, 3-5 inches in diam- 

 eter, s-celled (rarely 6); outside markings more blotched, green and 

 hght yellow, longitudmal markings moderately prominent and usually 



