CALYCIFLOR^ 253 



ovary is inferior, three-celled. The stigmas are of the 

 same number as the carpels, and the styles are simple 

 or forked. The fruit is a berry, one-celled, with many 

 seeds. In the Melon and Cucumber it is fleshy, and 

 a pepo when a berry-like fruit in some foreign types. 

 The seeds are flat, with a leathery, hard seed-coat. 



The order is probably nearly related to the Harebell 

 group. It has been compared also with the Passion- 

 flower group, or the Begonia or Elephant-ear group, 

 or the Loasaceae. 



Many of these plants have bitter or even poisonous 

 principles. 



The Melon, Gourd, etc., have saccharine, nutritious 

 properties. The Colocynth, Bottle Gourd, and 

 Bryony are bitter in principle. 



Here are included also the Water Melon, the 

 Cucumber, Cantaloups, Market Melon, Sucrins, 

 Winter Melons, Melon Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Vegetable 

 Marrow. 



The Colocynth and Bottle Gourd are poisonous. 

 The Squirting Cucumber is also very poisonous, the 

 mere act of carrying it in the hand being said to have 

 deleterious effects. 



White Bryony {Bryonia dioica.) 



There are two Bryonies, one a member of the 

 Pumpkin family, which includes Cucurhita Pepo^ and 

 the vegetable marrow a variety of it. The other, the 

 Black Bryony, is a Monocotyledon, with net-veined 



