Botany of the Cucurbits 



311 



staminate 1% to l^^ in. across, rotate, the shallow calyx-tube 

 not equalling tlie 5 subulate spreading calyx-lobes, the broad 

 obovate obtuse green-veiny corolla-lobes about 3 times exceed- 

 ing the calyx-lobes, the 3 short stamens with very large curling 

 anthers ; pistillate flowers solitary, with 3 short very large 

 2-lobed stigmas and small not protruding staminodia, the ovary 

 usually 3-celled : fruit glob- 

 ular or oblong, mostly glab- 

 rous, with a hard rind and 

 sweet red or white flesh, on 

 the outside green and com- 

 monly more or less marbled 

 when ripe : seeds white or 

 black, elliptic, flat, ridged on 

 the edge, about % to % in. 

 long and % to % in. wide, 

 with a characteristic promi- 

 nence on either side at the 

 point, weighing 90 to 120 

 mg., lasting 5 or 6 years. — 

 Tropical and South Africa. 

 The " citron " of housewives, 

 used for making of a pre- 

 serve, is a hard-fleshed 

 watermelon. A special kind 

 is grown in China for the 

 seeds, which are eaten. 



Cucurbita. The three do- 

 mesticated species of Cucur- 

 bita, comprising the 

 squashes, pumpkins and the 

 small yellow-flowered 

 gourds, are readily dis- 

 tinguished in the field when the eye is trained to recognize 

 the distinction, but may not be easily -separated in herbarium 

 specimens or by description. Following are visual features 

 of separation : 



192. Staminate flo\?er of Cucurbita moschata 

 (X about %). 



