218 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Cucurbitacee. 
The Cucurbitacee are common every where in India, both ina wild and cultivated 
state, belonging to the genera Zanonia, Lagenaria, which hardly differs sufficiently to 
be separated from Cucurbita, Benincasa, Cucumis, Luffa, Bryonia, Sicyos, Momordica, 
Trichosanthes, and Herpetospermum ; the last, with Zanonia, and the new genus Coccinia, 
formed by Messrs. Wight and Arnott of Bryonia grandis, are peculiar to India. Most of 
the others are found in the tropical parts, both of Africa and America, though they 
chiefly prevail in India, and in many parts of the Oriental Region. 
From the similarity of temperature which prevails over all India during the warm 
and rainy seasons, we find nearly the same species every where; but as most are found 
in a cultivated state or afford edible food, they will be enumerated below with those 
which afford useful medicines. Some of the species may be seen in the most arid 
places, others in the densest jungles; planted at the foot of a tree they emulate the 
vine in ascending its branches, and near a hut, they soon cover its thatch with a 
coating of green: they form a principal portion of the culture of Indian gardens: the 
farmer even rears them in the neighbourhood of his wells. 
From the descriptions of Dr. Roxburgh, and his drawings, as well as those of the 
late General Hardwicke, and from finding my specimens collected in Northern India 
corresponding in a great degree with those contained in the East-Indian Herbarium, I 
have no doubt that considerable certainty has been attained respecting the Indian 
species, though they still require-the labours of a monographist, who would study their 
habits in a living state and at different ages. | 
As indications of the vegetation of different parts it may be mentioned, that the 
species of Zanonia and Sicyos are confined to the forests of Nepal and Silhet, and those 
of Herpetospermum to the latter. From these, Trichosanthes palmata extends along the 
tract of forest to the Deyra Doon, where are also found the bitter variety of Lagenaria 
vulgaris, called toombee, Momordica Balsamina, Bryonia cissioides and laciniosa ; the 
last I have also received from Cashmere. Some of the above occur also in the valleys 
at the foot of the hills, with Cucumis Hardwickii, nob. The only species I have found in 
the interior of the mountains, are Bryonia scabrella and Nepalensis, with a new species 
of Cucumis, C. Himalensis, nob., from Simla, and also from Lieut. Maxwell, from near 
the Broang Pass. In the open plains, as near Saharunpore and Delhi, we have Cucu- 
mis pseudo-Colocynthis very abundant, as C. Colocynthis is described to be in parts of 
Africa; also C. pubescens, Bryonia rostrata, Momordica humilis, Luffa tenera and Coccinia 
Indica, which indeed is common every where. 
From the great size of the fruit, and the quantity of bland nutritious matter they 
contain, several of this tribe are cultivated in every part of India, either in field or 
garden cultivation; as Lagenaria vulgaris, al-kuddoo, of which the variety toomba is used 
for making the stringed musical instrument, called sitar ; Cucurbita Pepo, meetha kuddoo ; 
C. Citrullus, turbooz; a variety of this called tentsee; Benincasa cerifera, petha ; 
Cucumis Melo, khurbooza ; C. Momordica, phoot ; C. sativus, kheera ; C.utilissimus, kukree ; 
Luffa pentandra, acutangula, clavata and racemosa; the two first called ghia and kalee tori ; 
Momordica 
