310 



The Cucurhits 



(C. ColocyntMs) is cultivated, as a curiosity for its small 

 globular very bitter fruit which is also used in medicine. 



C. vulgaris, Sehrad. in Ecklon & Zeyher, Enum. PI. Afr. 

 Austr., 279. 1834. (Cucuriita Citrullus, Linn. Sp. PI. 1010.) 

 Watebmelon. Long-running hairy vine with branching ten- 



191. Leaf and pistillate flower of C. maxima; ovary at P (X about 2/5). 



drils : leaves ovate to ovate-oblong in outline, short- or loiig- 

 petioled, the blade pinnately divided into 3 or 4 pairs of lobes, 

 the lowest one again lobed, and with small lobes and teeth 

 variously placed, the base of the blade cordate : flowers axil- 

 lary, light yellow, rather slender-peduncled, with hairy calyx ; 



