Citrullus. — Momordica. 939 
evate in outline 5—9 cm long, 7-lobed, or 3-lobed with the middle 
lobe ovate, the lobes pinnatifid or sinuate-lobulate, scabrid on both, 
surfaces. Male flower: 1 cm diameter. Petals broad. Female flower:. 
Ovary villous. Fruit globose, variegated green and yellow, as large 
as an orange; pulp dry, intensely bitter. Seeds small, 4—6 mm; 
lenticular, smooth. — Flow. March to April. 
M. ma. M. p. N. d. N. v. O. D.1. D. i. D. a. sept. D. a. mer. 
Often abundantly, in deep sandy places. 
Local name: handal; urky (Schweinfurth). 
A common Indian plant, also known from the other parts of the 
Sahara region, Spain, Arabia, Tropical Africa and Cape Verde Islands. 
534. (5.) Momordica Linn. 
Monoecious or dioecious. Male flower: Solitary or corymbose 
or racemose. Calyx-tube very short, campanulate, with 2—3 in- 
curved membranous scales inside; lobes rounded ovate or lanceo- 
late. Corolla rotate or campanulate, 5-lobed or -partite, lobes ob- 
ovate, ribbed, 2 often larger than the others. Filaments 3, rarely 
2 or 5, free, short, inserted at the mouth of the calyx-tube; anthers 
finally free, entire or 2—3-partite or lobed, one 1-celled, two 2-celled; 
cells flexuous, rarely straight or simply curved, connective not pro- 
duced at the apex, which is occasionally villous or papillose. Rudi- 
mentary ovary 0 or gland-like. Female flower: Solitary. Stami- 
nodes 0, or 3 glands at the base of the style. Ovary oblong or 
fusiform; style slender, stigmas 3; ovules very many on 3 placentas. 
Fruit of various shapes, sometimes 3-valved. Seeds few or many, 
flat or tumid, smooth or sculptured. —- Annual or perennial-rooted, 
prostrate or climbing herbs. Leaves entire lobed or pedate. Tendrils 
simple or 2-fid. Flowers large or small, yellow, rarely white. 
The genus is dispersed over the tropical and subtropical regions of 
both the New and the Old World; most of the species, however, are 
African. The following one common in Asia and Africa. 
1305. Momordica balsanina L. Spec. Plant. | (1753), p.1453. 
— Boiss. Flor. Or. II, p.757. — Wight Icon. Plant. Or., tab. 504, 
— Aschers.-Schweinf. Ill. Flor. d’Kg., p.76 no. 440. — Seringe in 
DC. Prodrom. Ill, p. 311. — Naud. in Ann. Science. Natur., Ser. V, , 
Vol. V, p. 21. — Lam. Illustr., tab. 794 fig. 1. — Momordica gari-. 
pensis E. Mey. ex Boiss. Flor. Or. II, p. 757. — Monoecious; glabrous. 
or young parts slightly pubescent. Stem very slender. Leaves 
membranous, 2*/,—6'/, em in diameter, orbicular, palmately 3—5- 
lobed to about the middle, lobes rhomboid, deeply acutely lobulate; 
basal sinus deep and broad. Tendrils simple. Male flower: Pedunele; 
