I.XII. CL'CUBUIT.VCK.E. 533 



Trim. Fl. Ceyl. v. 2, p. 252 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Xat. v, 11 (1898) 

 p. 640 ; AVatt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. G, p. 94.— Flowers : June-Sept 

 Vern. Shirdld ; Shii-ol ; Dodka-turai, 



S. M. Countiiy: Belgaum hill south, Ritchie, ~^\ Kanara : Ilalyal, liitrhie 

 ^_j- ! As in the case of the preceding species, this cannot be regarded as truly wild. 

 It is cultivated extensively, and when half grown is an excellent and palatable vege- 

 table. The seeds possess emetic and purgative properties and are used in medicine. 

 See Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. 1. c. 



Vab. amara, C. B. Clarke, in Hook. f. Pi. B. I. v. 2, p. 615. Leaves 

 smaller, at lirst whitish and softly villous, at length scabrid. Flowers 

 smaller. Fruit obovoid, obtusely conical at both ends, 2-4 in. long by 

 about 1-1 1 in. thick, 10-ribbed, bitter. Seeds smaller. Trim. Fl. Ceyl. 

 V, 2, p. 252 ; Cogniaux, in DC. Monogr. Phan. v. 3, p. 461 ; Watt, Diet. 

 Econ. Prod. v. 5, p. 95. Luffa amara (sp.), Eoxb. Hort. Bang. p. 70 ; 

 Grab. Cat. p. 77 ; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 102 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. 

 V. 11(1898) p. 640. — Flowers : Sept. A^ern. Bdn-turai. 



Common in hedges in the rains. Konkan : wild about Bombay and in the Konkans, 

 Graham; W. Ghats, Jroo(^;-o«'. S. M. Country : Belgaum, 7?2YcA'i!>. Gujarat : Godra, 

 Cooke \, Woodroiv. — Distiub. Throughout India, especially the Western Peninsula; 

 Ceylon. 



The whole plant is exceedingly bitter and the seeds are cathartic and emetic. Their 

 action is said to be safe and sure, and more satisfactory than that of the seeds of 

 L, acutangula. See Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. 1. c. 



3, LufFa echinata, lioxh. Hort. Beng. (1814) p. 104. Climbing 

 but not extensively ; stem sleuder, branched, furrowed, glabrous. 

 Tendrils 2-lid. Leaves l2-2| in. long, usually a little broader than 

 long, reuiform-suborbicular in outline, broadly cordate at the base, 

 obscurely 5-angled or more or less deeply 5-lobed, the lobes rounded or 

 rarely subacute at the apex, the margins minutely denticulate ; petioles 

 1-2 in. long, striate, puberulous or sometimes slightly scabrid. Flowers 

 ustially dioecious. Male flowers : Peduncles 3-6 in. long, usually in 

 pairs, one l-Howered, the other with a raceme of 5-12 flowers at the 

 apex ; pedicels |-| iu. long, bracteate near the base. Calyx hairy, \ in. 

 long ; tube very short ; lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute. Petals white, 

 spreading, obovate, twice as long as the calyx, veined. Stamens 3, two 

 with 2-celled anthers. Female flowers : Peduncles |-2 in. long. 

 Fruit broadly ellipsoid, 1-1| by |-| in., not ribbed, clothed with cihate 

 bristles ^-| in. long ; operculum conical, withotit bristles. Seeds 

 numerous, \-\ by g in., not winged, slightlv verrucose. FI. B. I. v. 2, 

 p. 615 ; Dalz. & "Gibs. p. 102 ; Aitch. P'b. & Sind PL p. 03 ; AVoodr. in 

 Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 11 (1898) p. 640; AA^att, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 5, 

 p. 97. — Flowers : Sept. A'ern. Kulad-vel. 



Eare, except in Gujarat and Sind. Gujak.\t: Dalzelll ; GundAr, Ba/zell ^- Gihso7i ; 



Godra, Woodrow ; Deesa, Stocks I Sind : Stocks. — Distrib. India (Gujarat, Sind, 

 Dacca) ; Tropical Africa. 



The fruit is used in medicine. 



4. BRYONOPSIS, Arn. in Hook. Journ. Bot. v. 3, p. 274. 



Annual scaberulous scandent herbs. Tendrils 2-fid. Leaves deeply 

 palmately 5-lobed. Flowers monoecious, the male and female fascicled, 

 often in the same axils. Male flowers : Calyx-tube broadly campanu- 



