PLANTS CULTIVATED FOR THEIR FRUITS. 271 



absence of a Hebrew name is another reason for believing 

 that its cultivation was introduced into Egypt in the 

 Middle Ages. It is now grown in the Delta, not only 

 for the fruit but also for the export of the seed, from 

 which a preparation is made for softening the skin. 



The species is cultivated in Brazil, Guiana, Mexico, 

 etc., but I find no indication that it is indigenous in 

 America. It appears to have been here and there 

 naturalized, in Nicaragua for instance, from a specimen 

 of Levy's. 



In brief, the Asiatic origin is certain, the African very 

 doubtful, that of America imaginary, or rather the effect 

 of naturalization. 



Angular Luffa — Lvffd acutangula, Eoxburgh. 



The origin of this species, cultivated like the pre- 

 ceding one in all tropical countries, is not very clear, 

 according to Naudin and Cogniaux.^ The first gives 

 Senegal, the second Asia, and, doubtfully, Africa. It is 

 hardly necessary to say that Linnaeus^ was mistaken in 

 indicating Tartary and China. Clarke, in Sir Joseph 

 Hooker's flora, says without hesitation that it is in- 

 digenous in British India. Rheede ^ formerly saw the 

 plant in sandy soil in Malabar. Its natural area seems 

 to be limited, for Thwaites in Ceylon, Kurz in British 

 Burmah, and Loureiro in China and Cochin-China,* only 

 give the species as cultivated, or growing on rubbish- 

 heaps near gardens. Bumphius ^ calls it a Bengal plant. 

 No luffa has been long cultivated in China, according 

 to a letter of Dr. Bretschneider. No Sanskrit name is 

 known. All these are indications of a comparatively 

 i-ecent culture in Asia. 



A variety with bitter fruit is common in British 

 India ^ in a wild state, since there is no inducement to 



* Nandin, Ann. Sc. Naf.^ 4th. series, vol. xii. p. 122 ; Cogniaux, in de 

 Candolle, Monogr. Phaner., iii. p. 459. 



* Linuseus, Species, p. 1436, as Cucumis acutangulus. 

 ' Eheede, Hort. 3Ialah., viii. p. 13, t. 7. 



4 Thwaites, Enxim. Cer/lan, p. 126; Kurz, Contrih.f ii. p. 101; 

 Loureiro, Fl. Cochin., p. 727. 



* Rumphius, Amhoin, v. p. 408, t. 149. 



* Clarke, in FL Brit. Ind., ii. p. 614. 



