74 CUCURBITACEZ. 
steamed, stuffed with spices, fried in melted butter, and eaten 
with wheaten bread as a remedy for spermatorrhcea. Ainslie, 4 
under the name of 7’. laciniosa, notices the use of 7’. cucwmerina 
as astomachic and laxative medicine among the Tamools, and q 
says it is the Patola of Southern India, Rheede gives the ~ 
following account of its medicinal properties :—‘‘ Decoctum 
cum saccharo sumptum, digestioni confert, tormina intesti- 
 epotus, valde purgativus est, in ipsa accessione februm quoti- 
dianarum ac quartanarum ex pituita provenientium, frigus vel 
diminuit vel in totum tollit, per vomitum scilicet: stipes im 
decocto datus phlegmati exroianwde conducit: fructus qua- 
quo modo sumpti tumores expellunt.” 
From our observation of the action of these plants we cannot 
find that they differ in any way from colocynth ; like that drug 
they require to be combined with aromatics to prevent griping’ 
Their febrifuge action appears to depend upon their purgative 4 
properties. | 
Description.—7. dioica—Stems twining, more or less 
woolly and scabrous. Leaves 3 by 2 in., harsh, sinuate-dentate, 
not lobed; petiole ? in.; tendrils 2- fd. Male peduncles in 
pairs. Calyx-tube 1? in., narrow. Fruit 2 to 34 in., oblong, 
acute, orange-red. | Seeds § to 3 in., half-ellipsoid, compressed, 
corrugate on the margin. Plant dicecious. 
- 4. cucumerina—Stems twining, more or less pubescent. 
Leaves 2t0 4 in., usually 5-lobed about half-way down, lobes 
obtuse, or if acute not acuminate; petiole 3 in.; tendrils 2-fid. — 
Male peduncles in pairs, often racemed, Oalys tabs 1 inch. 
Fruit 1 to 4 in., oblong, acute, red. Seeds 3 to 4 in., half- 
ellipsoid, compressed, corrugate. Plantdicecious. (FL Br. Ind.) | 
MOMORDICA DIOICA, Rozi. 
Fig.— Wight Ic,, tt. 505, 506; Rheede, Hort. Mal. viit., 18 
Hab.—Throughout India The tubers. — 
