6. Benincasa.j 18. CUCVBBITACEJE. [7. Momoiwica. 



gamopetalous, the stamens are inserted Dear month of the 

 tube, the densely hairy ovary has 3 flexnose stigmas. 

 Occasionally cultivated, Fls. Vec.-Jany. 



Hairy. L. cordate reniform-orbicular, toothed, sometimes also lobed 

 Tendriit forked. Fls. solitary about 2'' diam., the corolla lobes exceed- 

 ing the tube. Fr. hairy. 



7. Momordica, L. 



Tendrils simple. L. nndivided or palmatisect. Fls. 

 monoecious or dioecious, solitary peduncle often with a large 

 bract. Calyx-tube campanulate. Corolla nearly polypeta- 

 lons* Filam. 3. Anthers with horse-shoe shaped or con- 

 *duplicate cells. Style long, stjgmas 3. Fr. indehiscent or 

 3-valved, smooth, muricate or with soft spines 



L. deeply cut. Fruit tuber cled . . . 1. Cha. untia. 



L. not cut. Fruit densely softly spiny . . 2. dioica. 

 1. M- Charantia, L. Kirla, K.; Kanchan arac' (leaf), 

 karla (fruit), S. ; Karela, E. 



A soft rather slender climber with softly hairy stems 

 7 -palmatisect leaves, larger 4 J", and solitary flowers f-f" 

 diam. on filiform peduncles with 1 orbicular foliaceous 

 bract. 



Apparently wild, hedges and roadsides in the cooler parts of Sing- 

 bhum. Wild in Manbhum, Campbell. S. P., common in hedges. El. 

 Aug.- January . Fr. Aug -Feby. 



L. segments lobed or sinuate and dentate. Peduncles oxten 3£." 



Petals, distiact to base, spreading. Fruit ovoid narrowed both ends 1-&'' 

 with tubercled ribs, beaked, yellow when ripe. 

 Leaves as well as fruit are eaten. 



2, M. dioica, Roxb. Ochen K, ; Kaksa, H. 

 Slender nearly glabrous. L, cordate ovate acute denti- 

 culate mucronate 3-4". 



Fern, peduncles l|-2" bracteate above the middle. 

 Petals free to base, f" pubescent. 



Apparently wild in hedges.. Fl. Aug.-Sept. Fr. 8egt,-0cU 

 Fruit eaten. 



170 



