10 Citeullus.] 13. CVCVRBITACEJE. [11. Cucumis. 



TJ anally prostrate with rather slender stem pubescent or 

 hairy or nearly glabrous and with somewhat scabrid petioles. 

 L. 3-5-f artite with the segments pinnati6d, sinuate and 

 denticulate, about 6" by 5" with petiole 5", dotted beneath, 

 tendrils 2-3-fid. Fl. solitary, rarely geminate, on a peduncle 

 l|-2", monoecious. Hypanthium short campannlate, sepals 

 linear J". Corolla 1" diam. deeply-lobed, lobes strongly 3-5- 

 nerved. St. 3 distinct with sigmoid anthers. Peduncle sub- 

 tended at base (always?) by an obovoid entire 3-nerved 

 f oliaceous bract £" long. 



Frequently cultivated, and sometimes self-sown. 



% C. Colocynthis, Bchrad. The Colocynth has very deeply pam- 

 ately-divided leaves 2*3'' diam. very scabrous and hispid with tubercle- 

 based hairs, and somewhat resembles Cucumis trigonus when wild. It 

 is said to occur throughout India, but I have not met with it in Chota 

 Nagpur. 



11. Cucumis. L. 



Hispid or scabrid herbs with simple tendrils. Fls. 

 monoecious. Males fascicled and females solitary, in the 

 axils, shortly peduncled. Hypanthium short. Filaments 3. 

 Anther cells conduplicate or only flexuose. Connective 

 produced into a crest above the anther. Ovary 3-septate 

 or septa not meeting in the middle. Style short, stigmas 3, 

 obtuse. Fruit fleshy. 



1. C trigonus, Hoxb. Bing Dimbu, K. The wild melon. 

 Prostrate, with scabrous stems and petioles. Leaves 

 small deeply palmately 3-5-lobed to about the middle or 

 more, sometimes merely angular ( see var.) Corolla, \' diam. 

 lobed beyond the middle. Fruit smooth ellipsoid or globose 

 li"diam., striped green and white. 



Very common on banks and waste ground throughout the area. FL, 

 Fr. Aug.-Oct. 



L. scabrous on both sides, lobes with broad tips, which are sometimes 

 again hobed Peti. about J-1J*. M. fls. sometimes solitary. Ped. £''. 

 Calyx and cor. and ovary hairy. 



17a 



