CUCUEBITACE^. 215 



broad tufts or patches. Leaves obovate or oblong, seldom half an inch 

 long, tapermg into a stalk at the base. Flowers sessile in the axils of nearly 

 aU the leaves. Capsules enclosed in the somewhat enlarged calyx, but 

 seldom attaining a line in diameter. 



In wet ditches, and moist, watery places, in central and southern Europe 

 to the Caucasus, extending northward into Scandinavia, but not recorded 

 from Siberia or central Asia. Frequent in England and Ireland, less so in 

 Scotland. Fl. all summer. 



XXVIII. THE GOURD FAMILY. CUCUEBITACE^. 



Herbs, with long stems, prostrate, or climbing by means of 

 axillary tendrils ; alternate, palmately-veined leaves ; and uni- 

 sexual flowers, either solitary or in bunches or racemes in the 

 axils of the leaves. Calyx 5-toothed. Petals united iu a single 

 5-lobed corolla or rarely distinct, inserted in the margin of the 

 calyx. Stamens in the male flowers inserted on the calyx or 

 corolla ; anthers curved, forming a wavy line on the short, 

 thick filaments, which are sometimes free, but often so com- 

 bined as that the number of stamens, which is generally 5, 

 appears to be 3 only, or sometimes all the filaments form but 

 one mass. Ovary in the females inferior, divided into 3 or 5 

 cells. Stigmas from 3 to 5, 2-cleft, either sessile or supported 

 on a style. Fruit succulent or juicy, either indehiscent or 

 bursting open elastically when ripe. 



A considerable Order, chiefly tropical, and more especially Afi-ican, with 

 but very few species, extending into Europe or northern Asia. It is very 

 easily recognized, as well by its fohage and tendi-ils as by the structure 

 of the flowers. The only Order at aU allied to it is that of the Passion- 

 Jlowers, almost all of them American, and chiefly tropical, but of which 

 some species are well known among our greenhouse or stove plants. To 

 the Gourd family belong the Cucumbers, Melons, Watermelons, Gourds, 

 Pumpkins, etc., of our gardens, most of them of very ancient cultivation, 

 but imknown in a wild state. 



I. BRYONY. BRYONIA. 



Calyx with 5 small teeth. Corolla 5-lobed. Stamens combined into 3, 

 of which 2 are double and 1 single. Style 3-lobed, with capitate or 2-lobed 

 stigmas. Fruit a globular berry. 



1. Common Bryony. Bryonia dioica, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 439.) 

 Rootstock perennial, thick and tuberous, sometimes branched ; the annual 

 stems cUmbing to a great length, and, as well as the whole plant, rough 

 with minute hahs, containing an acrid juice, and emitting a sickening smeU 

 in drying. Tendi-ils simple or branched, and spu-aUy twisted. Leaves 

 more or less deeply divided into 5 or 7 broad, angular, and coarsely toothed 

 lobes, of which the middle one is the longest. Flowers dioecious, the males 



