274 SYSTEMATIC BOTAXY. 



like, or even snake-like form ; some kinds are dehiscent : in Ecbalmm it 

 bursts by separating from its peduncle and expelling the seeds with 

 violence "through the orifice; in Momordica and others it bursts irregu- 

 larly ; in 'Elaierium it bursts by two or three valves at the summit ; and 

 in some species of Luffa an orifice is formed at the top by the separation 

 of the scar of the calyx. In Seclrium the pepo contains only one seed, 

 which germinates within the fruit, and never separates from it, so that 

 the fruit resembles a thick root-stock. 



Distribution. A considerable Order, the species of which are chiefly 

 natives of hot climates, especially abounding in the East Indies, but some 

 found almost anywhere ; Bryonia dioica is the only British species. 



Qualities and Uses. The majority of the plants of this order are to be 

 looked upon as suspicious, from the prevalence of a purgative property, 

 sometimes very violent, sometimes slight, and apparently liable to affect 

 particular constitutions more strongly than others. Some kinds may be 

 reckoned as poisons, while others, especially when cultivated, although 

 they retain laxative qualities, become innocuous. Among the decided 

 purgatives, Ecbalium agreste, the dried juice of the fruit of which furnishes 

 "Elaterium,'' is one of the most drastic agents known. Colocynth is the 

 extract of the pulp of Citrullus Colocynthis ; the fruits of several species 

 of Luffa and Layenaria are strongly purgative ; the roots of the various 

 species of Bryonia are actively cathartic ; and the same quality resides in 

 the seeds of Femllcea cordifolia, &c. Some other plants of the Order share 

 this quality, although the' seeds are generally harmless. 



On the other hand, the milder species furnish fruits highly esteemed 

 either as fruits, for their delicate flavour in their fresh state, as in the 

 Melon and the Cucumber, or as pot-herbs, from the succulent, bland, 

 pulpy substance of the unripe or ripe fruit, as of the Gourds. Cucumis 

 Meto is the common Melon ; Cucumis sathms is the Cucumber ; Cucur- 

 bita Citrullus is the Water-melon ; Cucurbita Pepo is the White Gourd, 

 C. maxima the Red Gourd or Pumpkin ; the Vegetable-marrow is a 

 variety of C. Pepo. The Snake-gourd, Trichosanthes anyuina, is eaten in 

 India, also many other species of Cucurbitaceous plants, which appear to 

 become much milder under cultivation. The fruit of Sechium edide is also 

 eaten in hot countries. The seeds are oily ; some are harmless, as those 

 of Telfairia pedata (Africa), which are said to be as large as chestnuts, 

 and are eaten like almonds, and the oil expressed. The pulp surrounding 

 them is very bitter. 



BEGONIACE^E (ELEPHANT'S EARS) are herbaceous plants or low suc- 

 culent shrubs with an acid juice ; leaves alternate, oblique at the base, 

 with large scarious stipules ; flowers monoecious ; sepals coloured, those 

 of the barren flowers in two pairs, decussating ; those of the fertile flowers 

 5, imbricated, or 8 ; stamens indefinite, distinct or coherent in a column j 

 anthers clustered ; ovary inferior, 3-celled, with 3 dissepimental placentas 

 meeting in the axis ; stigmas 3, sessile, 2-lobed ; fruit capsular ; seeds 

 aperispermic, with a thin reticulated testa. Illustrative Genera : Bego- 

 nia, L. ; Hilkbrandia, Oliv. 



Affinities, &c. The relations of this interesting and numerous Order 

 have been variously conceived by different authors ; but they appear to be 



