274 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The whole aspect of the plant and external appearance 

 of the fruit so closely resemble the above-mentioned, 

 that it is supposed to be nothing more than a variety 

 perhaps Var. Pastera of Seringe and De Cand. 



Colocynth (Cucumis colocynthis) has a slender, hairy, 

 prostrate stem ; leaves heart-shaped, oblong, smooth ; 

 under side covered with coarse white down ; fruit globous, 

 yellow when ripe ; flowers also yellow. A native of 

 Japan. Flesh white, dry, and intolerably bitter. The 

 extract is the colocynth of the shops, poisonous, but 

 medicinal. O 



Prickly Cucumber (C. Anguria) is about the size of 

 a hen's egg, covered with prickles. Native of Jamaica ; 

 cultivated for the green fruit, used only for pickles. Q. 



Cucurbila, the Latinized Celtic name for a gourd. 



The Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) has leaves rough, 

 heart-shaped, blunt, notched, and five-lobed ; fruit very 

 large, smooth, yellow ; flowers yellow. Native of the 

 East, but now cultivated everywhere as food for cattle. 

 The fruit, which is sometimes used as a kitchen vege- 

 table, contains a great number of white seeds. There 

 are many varieties, known as Bottle Gourd, Giant 

 Pumpkin, etc., the latter very large. O. 



Flat Squash (C. Melopepo), leaves hairy ; stem pro- 

 cumbent ; fruit depressed or flat, sometimes smooth, at 

 others warty. Cultivated for its fruit, a well known 

 kitchen vegetable. O. 



Crooked Necked or War ted Squash (Cucurbita ver- 

 rucasa), leaves, stem, flowers, resemble the above; long 

 neck curved, thick at base. Common in gardens, with 

 numerous well known varieties. Mentioned by Nuttale, 

 as cultivated by the Indians west of the Mississippi. O. 

 THIRTY-FIRST FAMILY. GROSSULACETE. CURRANTS. 



