674 



CRESCENTIACEiE. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



and particularly in habit. The same observations apply to Pedahaceae, which are also 

 1 -celled; for although the ripe fruit of both them and Cj-rtandracese possesses apparently 

 more than one cell, as if produced by the spreading and di^dding of their parietal pla- 

 centae, the ovary of both, according to Bentham, is always miilocular if examined 

 before the development occasioned by fecundation. 



" To all the other Orders of the dicarpose group, Crescentia is of com'se more or less 

 related, but is abimdantly distinct from every one. Thus, it is distinguished from Acan- 

 thacese by its simple calyx, 1 -celled ovary, unsuspended seeds, and m habit ; fromLen- 

 tibulariese by its parietal, not free central placentation ; and from Scrophulariacese and 

 Solanaceae and their alHes by its want of albumen." — Hooker^s Journ. 2. 424. 



Inhabitants of the tropics of Asia, Africa, and America, but most especially abimdant 

 in the Mauritius and Madagascar. 



The principal plant of this Order is the Calabash tree, Crescentia Cujete, a tree 

 inhabiting the tropical parts of America, and bearing a great govu'd-like finiit, filled with 

 a sub-acid pulp which is eaten by the Negroes, and from which poultices are also pre- 

 pared ; its hard shell is used for holding fluids, in the room of bottles. The pulp of 

 Tanaecium Jarowa is applied to the same purposes. Parmentiera edulis has fruit like 

 a Cucumber, and affords food to the Mexicans. — JDC. 



Crescentia, L. 



Cujete, Plum. 

 Kigelia, DC. 

 Tripirmaria, Pers. 



GENERA. 



Tanfecium, Sioz. 



PJaroba, Marcgr. 

 Schlegelia, Miq. 

 Colea, Bojer. 



Numbers. Gen. 11. Sp. 34. 



Tripinna, Lour 

 Sotor, Fenzl. 

 Schlegelia. Miq. 

 Parmentiera, DC. 



Periblema, DC. 



Boutonia, DC. 

 Phyllarthron, DC. 



Arthrophyllum, Boj. 



SolanacecB ? 

 Position. — Gesneraceae.— Crescentiace^. — Bignoniaceae. 



Fig. CCCCLIV. 



Fig. CCCCLIV.- Crescentia cucurbitina. 



