GOURD FAMILY. 



139 



the calyx. Stamens 5, triadelphous. Stigmas 3, subsessile, thick, 2- 

 lobed. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent. Seeds white, lance-oblong, compressed, 

 acute at base arid on the margin. 



1. 0. ME'LO, L. Stem prostrate ; leaves subcordate, obtuse, somewhat 

 angled, the angles rounded ; fertile flowers perfect ; fruit oval or subglo- 

 bose, torulose. 



MELON CUCUMIS. Musk-melon. Cantaloupe. 



Fr. Melon. Germ. Die Melone. Span. Melon almizcleno. 



Hirsute and roughish. Root annual. Stem 5-8 or 10 foot long, sparingly branched ; 

 tendrils simple. Leaves 3-4 inches long, and rather wider than long ; petioles 2-3 inches 

 in length, blowers axillary, on short peduncles. Corolla yellow. Fruit 4-6 or 8 inches 

 in diameter, often longitudinally ridged (torulose), the flesh, when mature, yellowish, 

 succulent, and of a saccharine spicy flavor. 



Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of Asia. Fl. June -July. Fr. August. 



Obs. The fruit of this of which there are several varieties is a great 

 favorite with many persons, and it is often cultivated at the North ; but 

 the best specimens are grown in the warm sandy soil of New Jersey, and 

 the Southern States. 



A. 



2. C. SATI'VUS, L. Stem procumbent ; leaves subcordate and angulate- 



lobed, the terminal lobe prominent ; fruit oblong, obscurely and obtusely 



trigonous, scabrous when young, finally smoothish. 



CULTIVATED CUCUMIS. Cucumber. 



Fr. Le Concombre. Germ. Die Gurke. Span. Pepino. 



Rough and hispid. Root annual. Stem 6-12 or 15 feet long, somewhat branching; 

 tendrils simple. Leaves 3-5 or 6 inches long, and nearly as wide as long, somewhat 

 5-angled and lobed ; petioles 2-4 inches in length. Flowers axillary, on short peduncles ; 

 corolla yellow. Fruit 6-12 inches long and 2-3 inches in diameter, rough with bristle- 

 pointed tubercles when young, smoothish and tawny yellow when mature. 



Gardens and lots : cultivated. Native of Tartary and the East. Fl. June -September. 

 Fr. August -October. 



FIG. 91. A staminate flower of the Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). 92. A fertile flt;wcr 

 of the same. 93. A pistil. 94. The stamens, showing the contorted anthers. 



