64 CUCURBITACE®. 
+ 
History, Uses, &c.—tThe distinction between the q 
when the latter, it is the Citrullus amarus of authors. C. Jis- 
tulosus, Stocks, has thick stems, leaves sparingly lobed, and 
is plentifully supplied with long somewhat hispid hairs. (Fl, 
is globular, about as large as colocynth fruit, does not become 
sweet when ripe, and is used in the same manner as the Vege- 
table Marrow. The seeds of the water-melon are of interest aS 
being one of the four cold cucurbitaceous seeds of the ancient s 
which, according to Guibonrt, were originally those of Cucumis 
sativus, L., Cucumis Citrullus, DC., (the water-melon), Cucumis 
Melo, L., and Lagenaria, vulg. clavata, DC., but he rems 
that in Paris the seeds of Cucurbita Pepo, Duch., and Cucur. 
bita maxima (the potiron of the French) are now substitute 
for those of Cucumis Citrullus and Lagenaria vulgaris. 
India the four cold cucurbitaceous seeds sold in the bazars a: 
those of Cucumis utilissimus, Benincasa cerifera, Cucumis Mel 
and Citrullus vulgaris. These seeds are in constant deman 
and are kept decorticated and ready for use. The natives. 
e— 
emetic, and in small doses with honey as a stomachic for chil: 
dren. (Murray.) Popularly the use of water melons is sup: 
posed to be specially conducive to choleraic Seizures, but t 
evidence upon which this opinion is based 
wholly inconclusive. According to Brannt th 
melon are brought from Senegal to France, 
pressed, yielding as much as 30 per cent. of a fluid pale ye 
oil which is used as a table oil and in the manufacture — 
