312 



CUCURBITACE.K. 



[Diclinous Exogens, 



Fig. CCXV1I. 



the former of these two writers a very particular account of the structure of the Order 

 has been given in the Memoires du Museum. He adopts the opinion of Jussieu, that the 

 apparent corolla of these plants is really a calyx, considering the apparent calyx to be 

 merely certain external appendages. In discussing the affinities of the Order, which he 

 does much at length, he remarks, that Carica (now the type of the Order Papayads) should 



ys. be excluded ; that 



■ V Vvjl : --!» * ne tendrils of Cu- 



curbits are trans- 

 formed stipules, 

 but scarcely analo- 

 gous to the stipules 

 of Passionflowers ; 

 that there is an 

 affinity between the 

 Order and Bell- 

 worts, manifested 

 in the perigynous 

 insertion of the sta- 

 mens, the inferior 

 ovary, the single 

 style with several 

 stigmas,the quinary 

 division of the flow- 

 er connected with 

 the ternary division 

 of the fruit, and, 

 finally, some ana- 

 logy in the nature 

 of the floral enve- 

 lopes. He, however, chiefly insists upon their affinity with Onagrads, with which, 

 including Myrobalans, they agree hi their definite perigynous stamens, single style, 

 exalbuminous seeds, fleshy fruit, and occasionally in the unisexual flowers and 

 climbing stem, being connected in the latter point of view with Onagrads through 

 Gronovia, a climbing genus then referred to that Order. He also points out the 

 further connection that exists between Cucurbits and Onagrads through Loasads, which, 

 with an undoubted affinity to the latter, have the habit of the former, especially in the 

 genus Gronovia which has just been named. With regard to the supposed affinity of 

 Cucurbits to Myrtles, this is founded upon the characters of a small group, called 

 Nandhirobese, consisting of plants having the habit of Cucurbits, but some resemblance 

 in the form of the fruit to that of Lecythids, which border closely upon Myrtles. 



The true affinity of Cucurbits seems, however, to be with diclinous Orders. Into 

 Lardizabalads they run through Zanonia ; the relation to Spurgeworts is indicated by the 

 climbing habit and the ternary plan of structure observable in the ovary of both Orders, 

 coupled with their disunited sexes ; and then to Papayads they belong in everything 

 except their adherent ovary and exalbuminous seeds. 



The plants called Nhandirobese by Auguste de St. Hilaire, whom Endlicher follows, 

 do not appear to differ essentially from other Cucurbits. Zanonia indeed, with its 

 panicles of small flowers and capsules opening at the point with 3 valves, has a 

 peculiar habit approaching Tetrameles, and so connecting this Order with Datiscads ; 

 but it is associated with the genus Feuillea, which seems to be a Gourd and 

 nothing else, notwithstanding its axillary tendrils. The characters relied upon to 

 distinguish Nhandirobece as an Order are, 1. a 3-celled ovary ; 2. the position of the 

 ovules ; 3. the distinct styles ; 4. the oblong anthers and axillary not lateral tendrils. 

 But there does not appear to be any difference between the placentation of Zanonia 

 and common Cucurbitaceous plants ; its 3 cells are formed by the adhesion of 

 3 projecting parietal placentae ; 2. if the ovules of Feuillea are ascending, those of 

 Zanonia are horizontal ; 3. the styles of Luffa are hardly united, and if it were 

 otherwise, such a character would not be entitled to much attention ; 4. the anthers 

 of Zanonia and Feuillea are not alike, and those of the latter genus do not seem 

 to be essentially different from those of Telfairia, Zehneria, and Mukia. As to 

 the supposed axillary stipules of Nhandirobese I can only say that they are represented 

 to be lateral in M. Turpin's figure of Feuillea hederacea, drawn expressly to illustrate 

 this supposed Order, and that they are certainly so in Z. cissoides and clavigera. 



According to M. Payer, the tendrils of Cucurbits are the two lateral fibrovascular 

 bundles out of the 3 which each leaf forms in its axil.— Ann. Sc. 3 ser. III. 164. 



Fig CCXVII.— Cucumis Melo. 1. £ flower and leaf ; 2. a section of a J flower; 3. the stamens. 



