76 



DICOTYLEDONS 



pistillate or female flowers. The llowers, then, are unisexual. 

 But as both kinds of flowers are on the same plants, they are 

 called nioucecioiis* plants. Insects carry the pollen from one 



1 2 



Fig. n. — Cucumis aativus. 1. Staminate, 2, Pistillate flower (the front part of 



the corolla is removed to show the central organs). 



flower to the pistil of the other. To attract them there is nectar 

 at the base of the corolla, to reach which they must penetrate 

 far into the flower, which is lined with thick hairs under which 

 the nectar lies. In the act of busily seeking after the sweet liquid, 

 the insects cannot help touching the male or the female organs, 

 as the case may be, and so fertilize the ovules. 



Other Cucumbers and Gourds. 



The Gourds grow well in the warmer parts of the earth, 

 especially within the tropics. Many of them arc cultivated for 

 their eatable fruits, and are very much alike in their general 

 habits. They can be best distini^uishod by tlieir various fruits. 

 The commonest are the Squash Gourd or Common Gourd 

 {CucurbiUi maxima; Kan. Kunil)a!a; Mai. Cakkarakumpalana; 

 'Tarn. Kumbalam); the Pumpkin {Cucurhita pcp(f; Kau. lludi- 

 kumbala; Mai. Kumbahnn: T(uit. Kalyanapucuni) : tlic Water 



* From Greek monos, one, and oihos, a liouse. 



