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manifested in the perigynous insertion of the stamens, the inferior ovarium, 

 the single style with several stigmas, the quinary division of the flower 

 connected with the ternary division of the fruit, and, finally, some analogy 

 in the nature of the floral envelopes. He, however, chiefly ipsists upon their 

 affinity with Onagrarite, with which, including Combretacese, they agree in 

 their definite perigynous stamens, single style, exalbuminous seeds, fleshy 

 fruit, and occasionally in the unisexual flowers and climbing stem, being 

 connected in the latter point of view with Onagrarise through Gronovia, 

 a climbing genus of that order. He also points out the further connexion 

 that exists between Cucurbitaceae and Onagrarise through Loasese, which, 

 with an undoubted affinity to the latter, have all the habit of the former. 

 With regard to the supposed affinity of Cucurbitaceee to Myrtacese, this 

 is founded upon the characters of a small group, called Nandhirobe^, con- 

 sisting of plants having the habit of Cucurbitaceae, but some resemblance 

 in the form of their fruit to that of Lecythidese, which, as is well known, 

 border closely upon Myrtacese : but beyond this resemblance in the fruit, 

 which appears to be altogether a structure of analogy rather than of affinity,- 

 I find nothing to confirm the approachment. Indeed, I agree with Decan- 

 dolle in estimating Nandhirobese no higher than a mere section of Cucur- 

 bitaceae. 



Geography. Natives of hot countries in both hemispheres, chiefly 

 within the tropics ; a few are found to the north in Europe and North 

 America, and several are natives of the Cape of Good Hope. India appears 

 to be their favourite station. 



Properties. One of the most useful orders in the vegetable king- 

 dom, comprehending the Melon, the Cucumber, the Choco, and the vari- 

 ous species of Gourd, all useful as the food of man. A bitter laxative 

 quality perhaps pervades all these, which, in the Colocynth gourd, is so 

 concentrated as to become an active purgative principle. The Colocynth 

 of the shops is prepared from the pulp of Cucumis Colocynthis : it is of so 

 drastic and irritating a nature as to be classed by Orfila among his poisons ; 

 but, according to Thunberg, the gourd is rendered perfectly mild at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, by being properly pickled. Ainslie, 1. 85. The bitter 

 resinous matter in which the active principles of Colocynth are supposed to 

 exist, is called by chemists Colocynthin. A waxy substance is secreted by 

 the surface of the fruit of Benincasa cerifera. It is produced in the most 

 abundance at the time of its ripening. Delile Descript. The leaf of 

 Feuillea cordifolia is asserted by M. Drapiez to be a powerful antidote 

 against vegetable poisons. Ed. P. J. 4. 221. The fruit of Trichosanthes 

 palmata, pounded small and intimately blended with warm cocoa-nut oil, 

 is considered a valuable application in India for cleaning and healing the 

 offensive sores which sometimes take place inside of the ears. It is also 

 supposed to be a useful remedy, poured up the nostrils, in cases of ozsena. 

 Ainslie, 2. 85. The root of Bryonia possesses powerful purgative properties, 

 but is said to be capable of becoming wholesome food if properly cooked. 

 The perennial roots of all the order appear to contain similar bitter drastic 

 virtues, especially that of the Momordica Elaterium, or Spirting Cucumber. 

 An extremely active poisonous prmciple, called Elatine, has also been found 

 in the placenta of this plant. It exists in such extremely small quantity, 

 that Dr. Clutterbuck only obtained 6 grains from 40 fruit. Ed. P. J. 3. 307. 

 An ingenious explanation of the cause of the singular ejection of the seeds 

 of this plant will be found in Dutrochet Nouvelles Recherches S7ir VExos- 

 mose. The root of Bryonia roslrata is prescribed in India internally, in 

 electuary, in cases of piles. It is also used as a demulcent, in the form of 

 powder. That of Bryonia cordifolia is considered cooling, and to possess 



