PASSIFLORINJ1. 481 



the aperture formed at the base of the fruit. The ^-flowers are 

 borne in racemes near the solitary $ -flowers (Fig. 51 7). Bryonia 

 (White Bryoriy) has chiefly unbranched tendrils and small, 

 greenish-yellow, usually dioecious flowers with rotate corolla, 

 in many-flowered inflorescences ; the small, spherical berry has 

 no specially firm outer layer, and generally only few seeds. 

 The tap-root and a few of the other roots are tuberous. S. 

 alba (berry black; monoecious) and dioica (berry red ; dioecious). 

 Among other genera may be mentioned : Layenaria (Gourd) ; the fruit has a 

 woody external layer which, after the removal of the pulpy integument, may be 

 used as a gourd. Lujj'a has a polypetalous corolla ; the fruit is dry, and consists 

 internally of a network of vascular bundles ; it opens by an aperture at the 

 summit. Benincasa ; the fruit has a close, bluish coating of wax. Trichos- 

 anthes (Snake Cucumber) has a thin, round, long and curved fruit. Momordica ; 

 the fleshy fruit opens and ejects the seeds. Cyclanthera takes its name from 

 the staminal column which is found in the centre of the $ -flower, bearing a bi- 

 locular, ring-like anther which opens by a horizontal cleft. The fruit is uni- 

 locular by suppression, has 1 placenta, and when touched opens and ejects the 

 seeds. Sicyos and Sechium have only unilocular ovaries with one pendulous 

 ovule. Sechium has, moreover, 5 free stamens, of which only one is halved, the 

 other 4 having both halves of the anther. Fevillea and Thladiantha also have 

 5 free stamens. Dimorphochlarnys has dimorphic flowers. 



POLLINATION is effected by insects, chiefly bees or wasps, the nectar being 

 secreted by the inner, yellow portion of the receptacle ; in the $ -flower access 

 is gained to the nectar through the slits between the stamens, which arch over 

 the nectary. 85 genera ; about 637 species ; especially in the Tropics. Only 

 two are found in the whole of N. Europe, Bryonia alba and dioica ; in S. 

 Europe, Ecballium also. Most of the cultivated species have been obtained 

 from Asia, such as the Cucumber, Melon, Colocynth, several Lw$a-species (the 

 " Gourds " mentioned in Scripture are Cucumis chate) ; from Africa, the 

 Water-melon, Cucurbita maxima, and others ; from S. Am., no doubt, the 

 Pumpkin (C. pepo and melopepo). USES. Many species are used in medicine 

 or for domestic purposes. Bitter, poisonous properties are found ; the fruits of 

 the two officinal ones are purgative : Citrullu* colocynthis (Mediterranean, E. 

 India, Ceylon) and Ecballium elaterium, as well as various tropical species, the 

 roots of Bryonia, etc. The following are cultivated AS ARTICLES OF FOOD : 

 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo, etc.), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Melon (Cucumis 

 melo), the Water-melon (Citrullus vulgari*), Sechium edule (Chocho), certain 

 species of Luff a (the young fruit). The Bottle Gourd is cultivated in tropical 

 countries for the sake of its hard pericarp, which is useful for bowls, bottles, 

 etc. The fruits of Luff a have a number of reticulately felted, tolerably firm 

 vascular bundles, which render them serviceable in various ways (as a kind of 

 il sponge "). The Cucurbits are of no use in the manufactures. Only a 

 few are cultivated as ornamental plants, chiefly as curiosities. 



