XXV. 
CUCUMIS COLOCYNTHIS. 
Colocynth, Bitter Cucumber, or Bitter Apple. 
SyyoyyMs.—Oolocynthis, Gerard. Emar., p. 915; Raii Hist., p.642. Colo- 
cynthis fructu rotundo minor, Bauwh. Muy., p. 313. Colocynthis vulgaris, Park. 
Theat., p. 160. 
Forrien Names.—Fr.: Coloquinte. Ital. : Coloquintida. Span.: Coloquin- 
tida. Port.: Coloquintidas. Germ.: Coloquinte. Dut.: Koloquint. Swed. : 
Coloqwint. Dan.: Coloqvinder. Russ.: Colotsint, Arab.: Hunzil. Pers.: 
Hunzil. Tam.: Peycoomutikai, Varriecoomutikai. 
Nat. Order, Cucursitack®.—Monacta, SYNGENESIA. 
Gen. Cuar.—Calyz tubular, campanulate, with subulate segments, scarcely 
the length of the tube. Petals searcely adherent to each other and the 
calyx. Males: Stamina five, triadelphous. Females: Stigmas three, 
thick, bipartite. Fruit (peponida) three to six-celled. Seeds ovate, com- 
pressed, not marginate. Flowers moncecious or hermaphrodite, yellow 
(Decandolle). 
Srxc. Cxar.—Stem procumbent, somewhat hispid. Leaves cordate-ovate, 
many-lobed, white, with hairs beneath; the lobes obtuse; the petioles 
as long as the lamina. Tendrils short. Flowers axillary, solitary, 
stalked ; females with the tube of the calyx globose, somewhat hispid ; ; 
the limb campanulate, with narrow segments. Petals small. Fruit 
globose, smooth, yellow when ripe, with a thin, solid — and very bitter 
flesh Septineesoiae see 7 
History. ape. Adams (Dunbar, Gr. Lez.) considers the 
Kodoxw$is of the ancient Materia Medica, described by Dios- 
corides and Galen, to be the Cucumis Colocynthis | (Bitter 
Apple) of the modern Pharmacopaias. But “ even in the days 
of oe the literati grees of the a of dis- 
Fig. 1. A section of the flower. 2. pei x A seed. 4. The fruit 
(pepo). 
