GOURD FAMILY 



(Cucurbitaceoe) 



Herbaceous vines usually with tendrils. Leaves alternate, 

 generally more or less lobed. Petals usually 5, often more 

 or less united; flowers of 2 sexes, on the same or different 

 plants. Stamens usually 3, one of them with a 1-celled anther, 

 and the filaments often united. 



MOCK ORANGE (Cuc-arUta foetidissima, HBK.). Flowers 

 large, yellow, bell-shaped with 5 recurving lobes, of 2 

 sexes on the same vine, solitary on axillary footstalks 1 or 2 

 inches long. Leaves rough, somewhat triangular, with 

 heart-shaped base and slightly 3 to 5-lobed. A rough, hairy, 

 prostrate vine, ill-smelling when disturbed, from a large peren- 

 nial root, blooming from April to July or later, in dry soil, 

 California (especially southern) eastward to Nebraska and 

 Texas and south into Mexico. 



The name Mock Orange, commonly applied to this gourd, 

 describes the mature fruit. They are of saponaceous composi- 

 tion and the Indians crushed them for soap. They also used 

 the seeds for food. The plant is nearly related to the pumpkin. 



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