§4 CUCURBIT A CE^. 



CUCURBITACE^. 



See Vol. I p. 165. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



Anther cells doubled back trichosanthes. 



Anther cells straight, horizontal .... melothria. 

 Anthers straight, vertical. Ls. pedate . . gymnostemma. 



TRICHOSANTHES. f.b.i. 65 n. 



Herbs distinguished from all others of this order very 

 easily by the petals, which are deeply cut into long 

 fimbriae. Anther cells doubled back. Fruit smooth. 



Species 42, India, Malaya, Australia. T. Anguina Linn, is 

 the Snake Gourd of the plains. 



Trichosanthes villosula Cogn. A stout climber with 

 very hairy stems and large white flowers. Male racemes 

 with small bracts. Fruit ovoid-acuminate, 2j^ inches 

 long. 



Nilgiris : 5,000 to 6,000 feet. 



T. palmata Roxb.) var. tomentosa Heyne. F.B.I. ii 

 606, II. Male racemes with large laciniate bracts. Ls- 

 scabrid. 



Nilgiris, 3,000 to 6,000 feet. [G.F.M.F.] 



MELOTHRIA. 



See Vol. I p. 166, add : 



Melothria leiosperma Cogn. ; F.B.L ii 623, as Mukia 

 leiosperma Wt. A scabrid climbing herb with un- 

 branched tendrills. Leaves angular, not deeply lobed^ 

 Flowers small, solitary. Corolla five-lobed. Stamens 

 of male flowers 3, anthers straight two 2-celled, one l- 

 celled. Female flowers like the male, small campanulate. 

 Fruit globose, green with white markings, seeds few. 

 t. 344. 



Nilgiris : near Coonoor, etc. Pulneys at Shembaganur. 



