190 ORD. XI. Cucurbitacee. cucumis cOLOCYNTHIS. 
divided at the brim into five tapering segments: the corolla is 
monopetalous, bell-shaped, and divided at the limb into five pointed 
segments: the filaments are three, two of which are bifid at the 
7 apex; they are all very short, and inserted into the calyx: the 
anthere are linear, long, erect, and adhere together on the outer 
side: the calyx and carols of the female flower are similar to those 
of the male: the three filaments are without anther: the germen 
is large: the st¥le cylindrical, very short, furnished With a 
stigmata, which are thick, gibbous, bifid, and bent outwardly: t 
fruit isa round apple, of the size of an orange, divided into aes 
cells, abounding with a pulpy matter, separated every where by 
eellular membrane, and including many ovate compressed seeds. 
The flowers appear from May till August. 
Colocynth is imported for use to this part of Europe.from Turkey, 
but it is yet anknown here of what place this plant is a native. It 
‘seems to have been cultivated in Britain in the time of Turner, and 
the figure we have given was drawn from a specimen of the plant 
produced by sowing the seed ina hot bed. Though the plants thus 
raised put forth flowers readily, they are very rarely known to bear 
fruit. .The spongy membranous medullary part of the fruit is di- 
rected for medicinal use: this, “‘ which to the taste is nauseous, acrid, 
and intensely bitter, on being boiled in water, renders a large quan- 
tity of the liquor ropy and slimy: even a tincture of it made in proof 
spirit is so glutinous as not to pass through a filter, and not easily 
through a common strainer. The watery decoctions inspissated, 
yield a large proportion, half of the weight of the colocynth, or 
more, of a mucilaginous extract; which purges strongly, but with 
much less irritation, and greater safety, than the colocynth itself, 
and appears to be the best preparation obtainable from this drastic 
drug.””* 
This very powerful and irritating cathartic is the Koasxm%s of the 
Ancient Greeks, and the Alhandal of the Arabians: It was fre- 
awed employed by both in different diseases, though not without 
* Lewis, M. M. p. 246. 
