20 



PLATE 289. 



LUFFA SPHJERICA, Sond. (Fl. Cap., Vol. 2, p. 490). 

 Natural Order, CUCURBITACE.E. 



A dioecious climbing plant with large white flowers. Stems sulcate, minutely 

 pubescent. Leaves alternate, petiolate, palmately 3 to 5-lobed, central lobe largest, 

 all again regularly toothed, the teeth mucronate, 5 to 7 inches long and wide, veins 

 very prominent beneath, scarcely so above, minutely scabrous and dark green on 

 upper surface, lighter coloured and minutely pubescent beneath ; petiole f to 1 ^ 

 inch long, with 2 conical acute glands at its junction with the lamina. Tendrils, 

 bifid. Inflorescence axillary, peduncles shorter than the leaves, the male peduncles 

 2 to 8-flowered, females solitary. Male flowers ; calyx campanulate, spreading to 

 6 lines wide, 5-toothed the teeth subulate and variously glandular. Corolla 5 lobed, 

 inserted at mouth of calyx, 1^ to 1^ inch long, lobes oblong or obovate, white, 

 strongly veiny, the veins green ; pubescent on both surfaces. Stamens 3, free, 

 inserted with the corolla ; filaments short ; anthers sinuous, two 2-celled, one 

 1 -celled, ovary none. Female flowers ; calyx and corolla as in male, but teeth of 

 calyx more glandular, and corolla lobes a little larger ; stamens none. Ovary in- 

 ferior, subglobose ; style cylindrical, -J inch long ; stigmas 3, each 2 lobed. Fruit 

 an indehiscent pepo, with thick hard pericarp, dark green, marbled and spotted, 

 subglobose, 2^ to 3^ inches diameter. 



Habitat: NATAL: Near Durban, 150 feet alt, June, Wood No. 3269; near 

 Durban, March, Wood. 



Not an uncommon plant at edges of woods and climbing over shrubs in coast 

 districts, its large white flowers being very conspicuous. The large fibrous seed- 

 vessels of one or more species are known as " Loofahs," and are often met with 

 in commerce. 



Fig. 1 , female flower ; 2, style and stigma ; 3, stamen with 2-celled anther ; 4, 

 stamen with 1 -celled anther; all enlarged. 



