496 CUCUEBITACE^ — PAPATACB^. 



peculiar way, bearing the seeds on their curvature ; at the same time 

 prolongations are sent inwards, which often meet in the centre. 

 Stocks and others consider the carpels as being involute, and they 

 trace this involution particularly in Luffa pentandra. Luff a cegyptidca 

 is called the Towel-gourd, as its split fruit is used as a flesh-brush. 

 Sooly Qua is the fruit of this species of Luflfa. Cucumis Golocynthis, or 

 CitrvUus Golocynthis, yields a globular fruit called Coloquintida, or 

 Bitter Apple, the pulp of which constitutes the medicinal Oolocynth. 

 It is imported from the Levant and the coasts of the Mediterranean. 

 It is used in the form of powder and extract as an irritant cathartic. 

 The plant is supposed to be the nj?pa (Pakyoth), or Wild Gourd of 

 Scripture. Momordica Elaterimn or Ecballium agreste (ix^dXXu, I 

 expel, in allusion to the expulsion of the seeds), the Wild or Squirting 

 Cucumber, is so called on account of the force with which its seeds 

 are expelled when ripe. The fruit, by a process of Endosmose going 

 on in the cells, becomes distended, and ultimately gives way at -.the 

 weakest part, where the peduncle is united to it. In separating from 

 the stalk, the elasticity of the parietes comes into play, so as to dis- 

 charge the brown seeds and slimy juice through the aperture at the 

 base of the fruit. The feculence which subsides from the juice con- 

 stitutes the medicinal Elaterium, which is used in small doses of -^J 

 a grain, as a violent cathartic, especially in dropsical cases. The active 

 principle is Elaterin. The roots of Bryonia alba and dioica are also 

 powerful purgatives. The fruit of various species of Gourd, as Cucwr- 

 bita Pepo, the White Gourd, and 0. maxima the Ked Gourd, C. ovifera 

 succada, Vegetable Marrow, are used as potherbs ; while G. Gitrullus, 

 the Water Melon, is prized for its cool refreshing juice. The fruit of 

 Echinocystis lobata is the Mock-apple of Canada. TricJiosanthes anguina, 

 the Snake-gourd, is eaten in India. The fruit of Lagenaria vulgaris, 

 in consequence of having a hard outer covering, is used as a vessel 

 for containing fluid, after the pulp and seeds are removed. It is 

 hence called Bottle Gourd. It is stated that poisoning has followed 

 on the drinking of beer that had been standing in a flask made of one 

 of those Gourds. Dr. Royle mentions that symptoms of cholera have 

 been induced by eating the bitter pulp. The seeds of the plants in 

 this order frequently supply a bland oil. The seeds of Telfairia pedata 

 (Africa) are as large as Chestnuts, and are used as food. 



Order 79. — Papayaob.®, the Papaw Family. (Monopet. Poh/pet.' 

 Epigyn. and Diclines.) Calyx minute, 5-toothed. Corolla monopetal- 

 ous, inserted into the base of the calyx ; in the male, tubular and 5- 

 lobed; in the female, divided nearly to the base into 5 segments. 

 Stamens 10, inserted into the throat of the corolla ; anthers bilocular, 

 introrse, innate, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary free, 1-celled ; ovules 

 indefinite, attached to 5 parietal placentas ; stigma 6-lobed, lacerated. 

 Fruit usually succulent and indehiscent, sometimes capsular and dehi- 



