CVI. CUGUEBITACE^]. 



451 



Sechiiim. 

 Young 2 flower. 



Sfchium. 



Ovary cut vertically, with 

 pendulous ovule. 



Echlnocyslis. 



Pistil cut vertically, with 

 erect ovules. 



Echinocystis. 



Ovary cut transversely 



(mag.). 



one 1-celled anther, or of 5 normal 2-celled stamens ; filaments short, thick, free or 

 monadelphous, connective sometimes prolonged beyond the anthers ; anthers extrorse, 

 cells usually sinuous, adnate to the connective, rarely straight or arched, and opening 

 longitudinally or circularly. OVARY inferior, usually composed of 3-5 carpels (rarely 1), 

 coherent, with parietal placentas reflexed towards the circumference; style terminal, 

 short, 3-fid or -partite ; stigmas thick, lamellate, lobed or fringed ; ovules solitary or 

 numerous, several-seriate, erect pendulous or horizontal, anatropous. BERET fleshy, 

 (rarely dry), usually indehiscent, sometimes opening elastically at the base by the 

 separation of the peduncle (Ecbalium), or at the top by the raising of an operculum 

 (Luffa), or by irregular rupture (Momordica), sometimes dehiscent in 3 valves, or 

 circumsciss (Actinostemmd) . SEEDS numerous, horizontal, or erect at the bottom of 

 the cell (Echinocystis, Abobra), rarely one single pendulous (Sicyos, Sechium) [or two, 

 one pendulous and one erect (Raphanocarpum)], usually compressed, sessile or shortly 

 funicled ; testa membranous crustaceous ' or horny, often girt with a thick border, 

 rarely linear and sarnaroid ; albumen 0. EMBRYO straight; cotyledons foliaceous, 

 veined ; radicle short, reaching to the hiluin, centrifugal ; plumule with 2 distinct 

 leaves. 



[The following is the most recent classification of the Cucurbitacea, by Bentham 

 and Hooker fil., in the ' Genera Plantarum ' : 



TRIBE I. CDCDMEEINE^;, Naud. Stamens usually 3, free or connate ; anther-cells straight 

 or curved or flexuous. Ovary with 3, rarely 2-5 placentas ; ovules horizontal. Hodgsonia, 

 Telfairia,*Trichosanthes, TrocJiomeria, *Lagenaria,*Lu/a, *Benmcasa, * Momordica, Thladianiha, 

 *Cucumis, *Citrulhts, Ecbalium, CepJialandra, *CucurUta, Bryonia, Zehneria, Melothria, Rlujn- 

 chocarpa, Anguria, &c. 



TRIBE II. ABOBRE.E. Naud. Stamens 3, free; anther-cells flexuous. Ovary 3-4-celled ; 

 ovules 1-2 in each cell, erect or ascending from the base. Abobra, Trianospcrma, &c. 



TRIBE III. ELATERIE^, Hook. fil. Stamens 1-3. Ovary usually oblique, 1-4-celled, or 

 2-x -locellate. Berry bursting elasticity, exposing a naked fleshy seed-bearing columella, 

 rarely dehiscing by pores. Seeds erect, ascending, or horizontal. Eclnnocystis, Elaienum, 

 Cyclanthera, &c. 



TRIBE IV. SICYOIDE^, Naud. Stamens 3-5 ; filaments usually connate. Ovary 1-celled ; 

 ovule solitary, pendulous. Sicyos, *Sechium, &c. 



TRIBE V. GOMPHOQYNE*, Hook. //.Stamens 5, free ; anthers 1-celled, dehiscing longi- 



GO 2 



