236 THE vSqUiRTlN(T CUCUMBER. 



The\- are jewels on this exquisite coast. Close to the 

 castle, on the seasliore, was the (Jhiiic/'iini J^ulcn»] alread\' 

 in liower, that lianclsome horned Popp\- distinguished \>\ 

 its ghiucous foliage and large delicate lemon-^-ellow tlowers. 

 Not far off, spreading in e\'er\- direction, was one ot the 

 Gourd famih', ./ichalliuiu Jslafcrimu, the "vS^iuirting Cu- 

 cumber''. From its prostrate stem rise large hair\- leaves 

 and unattrarti\'e dull mellow-veined fiom\'ers which are 

 unisexual. This plant is chstributed over the Mediterranean 

 region: its juice is strongh- purgative and was prescribed 

 h\ Hippocrates for this purpose. It owes its name to 

 the extraordinar\- beha\'iour of its ripe fruits. These are 

 CA'lindrical, greenisli \'e]low, bristh', and attached to a 

 recur\ed pechcel. Tl a ripe fruit be touched it detaches 

 itself suddenly from its stalk and squirts its contents with 

 great force to a distance. This plienomenon is caused 

 hy the interior tissue of the fruit becoming mucilaginous 

 as it ripens; this at length se\'ers the connection with 

 the stalk. .\t the same time certain cell-kuers of the 

 walls being in a state ol tension, exert a strong pressure 

 on the contents and tlie slightest sliock is sufficient to 

 cause the separation of the fruit from tlie stalk and the 

 expulsion of the seeds through the orifice tlius prochiced. 

 The object ol this singular arrangement is the dispersal 

 of the seeds. 



Eastward of St. Honorat lies the rockm- islet of 

 St. Fereol. Its s(m1 is covered mainh' b\- a rank growtli 

 of Rue, J\'ii/a //rc/cfrosa. This plant reminds one xery 

 much of OLU' garden Rue, but its smell is so unpleasant 

 and penetrating that one rather avoids touching it. 



