Ill 



No. 288. Models of fruits of various kinds of Gourds CASE 

 as Vegetable Marrow, Dolphin Gourd, Knotted Poteron, 58. 

 Custard, Crown, &c., furnished by Cumtrhita Pepo^ DC. ; 

 also the Portmanteau and other Gourds from India, the 

 produce of Cucurbita moschatcc, Duch., and Turban, 

 Yellow Ppteron, Cushion and Ribbed Gourds, the fruits 

 of C. maxima, Duch. Ornamented Gourds of the latter 

 species from Bahia and Old Calabar are show^n. 



Note in the centre compartment of this case the acrid 

 and cathartic roots of the common Bryony {Bryonia 

 rtVo/ca, Jacq.),also fruits of Melo Coton (Sicana odorifera, 

 Naud.), from Jamaica and Brazil ; the spiny fruits of 

 Chayotilla (Hanburia mexicana. Seem.) a Mexican 

 climbing plant, and the fruits of Chayote, Choco or 

 Christophine {Sechium edule, Sw.) of Tropical America. 

 The latter is a favourite vegetable in the West Indies and 

 Madeira, and is sometimes sold in this country. The 

 root yields starch, or it may be eaten when quite young as 

 a substitute for the potato. 



Observe also the beautiful winged seeds of Zanonia 

 macrocarpa, Blume, a climbing plant of Java, and the 

 fruits and seeds ot the ANTIDOTE CocoON of Jamaica 

 (Fevillea cordifolia, L.). The negroes in Jamaica fasten 

 a number of the latter upon a skewer and setting fire to 

 the uppermost, they burn very gradually to the bottom. 

 The oil extracted from them burns in lamps with a clear, 

 fine light and has been used for car.dle-making. The 

 seeds are also used locally as an aperient medicine. 



The bottom shelf contains undetermined cucurbitaceous 

 fruits, seeds, &c. 



Indian Fig* Order {Cacteae). A singular group of 

 succulent shrubs, most variable in form — angular, flattened, 

 or almost spherical, and frequently spinous, bearing often 

 large and showy flowers. Thej^ are almost exclusively 

 American, although the Indian Fig {Opuntia Ficus-indioa^ 

 Webb), has long been naturalised in Southern Europe and 

 hot countries. The fruits of various species of Opuntia 

 and of Cerent giganteuSy Engel., and G. Tliurberi, Engel., 

 are eaten and much esteemed by the Indians of New 

 Mexico and Arizona. 



