416 PAP AY ACE X. 



especially under cultivation, the fruits are eatable. Instances of edible 

 fruits are seen in the case of the Melon, Cucumber, Gourd, Pumpkin, 

 Squash, and Vegetable Marrow. The genus Cucumis contains the 

 Melon and Cucumber, with edible fruits, and the Colocynth with purga- 

 tive fruit. Much discussion has taken place in regard to the structure 

 of the fruit in this genus, and in Cucurbitacese in general. Some have 

 considered it an anomaly in vegetable structure, from the apparent 

 formation of the placenta and ventral suture externally, as if the usual 

 position of the carpels were reversed. It would appear, however, as 

 shown by Lindley, that the placentas follow the ordinary law. They 

 are parietal, and curve in a peculiar way, bearing the seeds on their 

 curvature; at the same time prolongations are sent inwards, which 

 often meet in the centre. Stocks and others consider the carpels as 

 being involute, and they trace this involution particularly in Liiffa 

 pentandra. Cucumis Colocynthis, or Cit'rullus Colocynthis, yields a 

 globular fruit called Coloquintida, or Bitter Apple, the pulp of which 

 constitutes the medicinal Colocynth. It is imported from the Levant 

 and the coasts of the Mediterranean. It is used in the form of powder 

 and extract as an irritant cathartic. The plant is supposed to be 

 the rope, or Wild Gourd of Scripture. Momordica Elateiium or Ecba- 

 lium agreste, the Wild or Squirting Cucumber, is so called on account 

 of the force with which its seeds are expelled when ripe. The fruit, 

 by a process of endosmose going on in the cells, becomes distended, 

 and ultimately gives way at the weakest part, where the peduncle is 

 united to it. In separating from the stalk, the elasticity of the parietes 

 comes into play, so as to discharge the brown seeds and slimy juice 

 through the aperture at the base of the fruit. The feculence which 

 subsides from the juice constitutes the medicinal Elaterium, which is 

 used in small doses of ^ a gram, as a violent cathartic, especially 

 in dropsical cases. The active principle is Elaterin. The roots of 

 Bryonia alba and dioica are also powerful purgatives. The fruit of 

 various species of Gourd, as Cucurbita Pepo, the White Gourd, and 

 C. maxima, the Red Gourd, C. ovifera, the Vegetable Marrow, are used 

 as potherbs; while C. Citrullus, the Water Melon, is prized for its 

 cool refreshing juice. The fruit of Lagenaria vulgaris, in consequence 

 of having a hard outer covering, is used as a vessel for containing fluid, 

 after the pulp and seeds are removed. It is hence called Bottle 

 Gourd. The seeds of the plants in this order frequently supply a 

 bland oil. The seeds of Telfairia pedata are as large as Chestnuts, 

 and are used as food. 



873. Order 84. Papayaceie, the Papaw Family. (Monopet. 

 Polypet, Epigyn. and Diclines.) Calyx minute, 5-toothed. Corolla 

 monopetalous, inserted into the base of the calyx; in the male, tubular 

 and 5-lobed; in the female, divided nearly to the base into 5 segments. 

 In the section Pangiese the sepals and petals are distinct. Stamens 



