MOM 



MOM 



body and a fariniferous line once reflex: female 

 flowL-rs on the same plant : the calyx is a peri- 

 anlhium as in the male, siipcrioj-, deciduous: 

 the corolla as in the male : the stamina have 

 three filaments, very short, without anthers: the 

 jjistillum is an inferior germ, large : stvle 

 single, round, trifid, coknimar : stigmas three, 

 gibbons, oblong, pointing outwards : the peri- 

 ■caipium is a dry, oblong pome, opening elasti- 

 £aliy, three-celled : cells nien)branaceous, soft, 

 distant : the seeds several, and compressed. 



The species cultivated are: 1. M. balsamina, 

 .Common Momordica, or Male Balsam Apple ; 

 2. M. cliarantia. Hairy Momoulica; 3. M. 

 Li/J/a, Egyptian Momordica ; 4. M. dateriwn, 

 Elastic Momordica. 



The first has a trailing stem, like those of the 

 Cucnniberand Melon, extendingthree or fourfeet 

 in length, and sending out many side branches 

 ^^hich have tendrils : the leaves are shaped like 

 those of the \'ine, smooth, deeply cut into se- 

 veral segments, and spreading open like the hand. 

 According to Martyn, the fniit is fleshy, ovate, 

 drawn to a point at each end, obscurely angular, 

 remotely tubercled in longitudinal row's, smooth 

 in the other parts, red when ripe, one-celled, 

 inflated, bursting irregularly, and dispersing the 

 seeds, which are ovate and pale brown, with 

 a spring. It is a native «f Jndia,, flowering in 

 June and July. 



The second species has a round, slender, 

 branched stem, climbing by lateral tendrils : the 

 leaves are sinuate-palmate, wrinkled, smooth, 

 toothed, spread out into a ring, having the nerves 

 pubescent ; they are alternate and petioled ; the 

 flowers are sometimes hermaphrodite, on long, 

 axillary, one-flowered peduncles, of a jellow or 

 orange colour : the fruit oblong, bluntly angular, 

 tnbercled, drawn .to a point at each ei'id, white, 

 yellow, or green on the outside; within very red 

 and fleshy, one-celled ; it burs.ts dastically : the 

 seeds ovate, flat, bitten at the edge. It is a na- 

 tive of the East Indies, flowering in .Tune and 

 July. It varies, according to some, with short 

 pointed fruit. 



The third has an iingular, ver)' much branched 

 stem, climbing by bifid spiral tendrils : the 

 Jeaves having jive or seven sharp auules, the 

 middle one double the lenglh of the oilfers, un- 

 equally serrate, veined, wnnkkd, on long alter- 

 nate petioles : tJic male flowers are several to- 

 other, terminating : the females lateral, and so- 

 Jitary : the pojne a foot long, two inches tbi^k, 

 roundish, usually drawn to a point at each end, 

 hairy, three-celled, with a white, flaccid, escu- 

 lent pulp, of an insipid flavour : the seeds are 

 oblong, eompresjed.and smooth. It is a native 

 .t).t the tuit Indies, llovvi'rin^ in July aiid Aujjuat. 



The fourth species lias a large fleshy perennial 

 root, somewhat like that of Bryony : the stems 

 thick, rough, trailing, dividing into many 

 branches, and extending every way two or three 

 feet : the leaves are thick, rough, almost heart- 

 shaped, gray, on long foot-stalks : the flowers 

 axillary, much less than those of the common 

 Cucumber, of a pale yellow colour, with a green- 

 ish bottom : the male flower? stand on short 

 thick peduncles; but the female flowers sit on 

 the top of the young fruit, which grows to an 

 inch and half in length, swellinglike a Cu- 

 cumber, of a gray colour like the leaves, and 

 covered with short prickles : the fruit does not 

 change Its colour, but when ripe quits the pedun- 

 cle, and easts out the seeds and juice with c^reat 

 violence. It is a native of the South of Europe. 



When the fruit is designed for medicinal use, 

 it should be gathered before it is ripe, otherwise 

 the greatest part of the juice, which is tlie only 

 valuable part, is lost, as the expressed juice is 

 not to be compared with that v\ Inch runs out of 

 itself; and the elaterium made from the clear 

 juice is whiter, and keeps much longer than that 

 which is extracted by means of pressure. All 

 the parts of the plant are bitter, and strongly 

 purgative. 



.Ctt//^re.— All these plants may be increased 

 by sowing the seeds in the first three sorts upon 

 a moderate hot-bed in the early spring months, 

 as about Mar<;h ; and when the plants have had 

 a little growth, let them be pricked out into 

 another hot-bed, fre^h air being given in fine 

 weather, and water occasionally ; or they may 

 be let remain in the first hot-bed till they have 

 acquired suftleient growth, and have four'or five 

 leaves, when they shouJd be removed into the 

 hot-bed where they are to remain, one or two 

 plants being put into each light, due shade and 

 water being given till fresh rooted. They after- 

 wards demand the same management as the Cu- 

 cumber kind, the branches being suffered to ex- 

 tend themselves in the same manner. When 

 thus manageil and properly treated in respect to 

 air and water, they produce fruit and ripe seeds 

 m the latter end of sununer, when it mnst 

 be inuncdiately gathered to prevent its beino- 

 dispersed. * 



The plants may likewise be set in pots, and 

 placed in the hot-hoiue, tlieir vines or stems 

 being supported by slicks, m which mode they 

 have a much better appearance and eflTeet. 



The fourth sort may be sown orsuftlred to scat- 

 ter, where the plants are to remain, <;r on beds 

 of fine mould in the autumn ; the plants beino- 

 afterwards thinned out or removed uito rows in 

 an open situation, three or four feet apart, 

 and as many distant in tbem, reiiuiring- only the 



