258 A COMPENDIUM OF 
seed-like plant is a native of western Africa, 
attains a height of 3 or 4 feet, and bears a pale 
purple flower, wax-like in its character, which is 
succeeded by an ovoidal fruit, varying in size 
according to soil and climatic influence, often at- 
taining the dimensions of a pear. The pericarp 
is fleshy and encloses an acid pulp in which are 
embedded numerous seeds, which are angular 
and roundish in shape, about qz to 4 of an inch 
long, with a deep brown testa, inclining to a 
red color and warty. The varieties differ in 
color; they are albuminous, mealy, oily and 
creamy, and enclose a small embryo; odor 
Spice-like; taste aromatic and pepper-like. 
They contain gum, starch and ash, also an acrid 
resin and about 3 per cent of owl, rarely if ever 
used; they are, however, stimulating in their 
effects. The name is derived from the coun- 
tries in which they are found, or from their 
pepper-like character, They were used in the 
fifteenth century to make a spiced wine called 
hippocras, but now rarely found in the stores, 
Citrullus Vulgaris, Water Melon,—Natural 
order Cucurbitacez, This-plant is also a na- 
tive of the southern parts of Asia, and culti- 
vated for its fruit in all of the sub-tropical 
countries of the world. The stem is procum- 
bent and adorned with ovate leaves, deeply cut, 
to 20 inches long, oval in shape, with a firm 
fleshy green rind or epicarp, with a succulent 
pulp of a reddish orange color; seeds numer- 
ous, black, white or variegated ; oblong or ovate- 
