CVI. CUCUEBITACE^. 



451 



M^M:. 



Sechium. 

 Toung Q flower. 



Sechimn. 



Ovary out vertically, witli 



pendulous ovule. 



Echinocystis. 

 Pistil cut vertically, with 

 erect ovules. 



Echinocystis. 



Ovary cut transversely 



(mag.). 



one 1-celled anther, or of 5 normal 2-celled stamens ; filaments short, thick, free or 

 monadelphous, connective sometimes prolonged beyond the anthers ; anthers extrorse, 

 cells usually sinuous, adnate to the connective, rarely straight or arched, and opening 

 longitudinally or circularly. Ovaet inferior, usually composed of 3-6 carpels (rarely 1), 

 coherent, with parietal placentas reflexed towards the circumference ; style terminal, 

 short, 3-fid or -partite ; stigmas thick, lamellate, lobed or fringed ; ovules solitary or 

 numerous, several-seriate, erect pendulous or horizontal, anatropous. Bbeut fleshy, 

 (rarely dry), usually indehiscent, sometimes opening elastically at the base by the 

 separation of the peduncle {Echalium), or at the top by the raising of an operculum 

 (Luffa), or by irregular rupture (Momordica), sometimes dehiscent in 3 valves, or 

 circumsciss (Actinostemma) . Seeds numerous, horizontal, or erect at the bottom of 

 the cell {Echinocystis, Abohra), rarely one single pendulous {Sicyos, Sechium) [or two, 

 one pendulous and one erect {Baphanocarpum)^, usually compressed, sessile or shortly 

 funicled ; testa membranous crustaceous or horny, often girt with a thick border, 

 rarely linear and samaroid; albumen 0. Embkto straight; cotyledons foliaceous, 

 veined ; radicle short, reaching to the hUum, centrifugal j plumule with 2 distinct 

 leaves. 



[The following is the most recent classification of the Gucurhitacem, by Bentham 

 and Hooker fil., in the ' Genera Plantarum ' : — 



Teibe I. CcrouMBBiNEiE, Naud. — Stamens usually 3, free or connate ; anther-cells straight 

 or curved or flexuous. Ovary with 3, rarely 2-6 placentas ; ovules horizontal. Hodgsonia, 

 Telfairia,*Trichosanthes, TrocJiovieria, *Lagenaria,*Luffa, *B6ni'hcasa, ^Momordica, Thladianiha, 

 *Gueumis, *Gitrullus, IjobaUum, Oephalamdra, *Gucurhita, Bryonia, Zehneria, Melothria, Rhyn-, 

 cJiocarpa, Anguria, &c. 



Teibe II. Abobbeji, Naud. — Stamens 3, free ; anther-cells flexuous. Ovary 3-4-ceIled ; 

 ovules 1-2 in each cell, erect or ascending from the base. Abohra, Trianosperma, &o. 



Tribe III. Elatebie^, Hooh. fil. — Stamens 1-3. Ovary usually oblique, 1-4-celled, or 

 2-x -locellate. Berry bursting elastically, exposing a naked fleshy seed-bearing columella, 

 rarely dehiscing by pores, Seeds erect, ascending, or horizontal. Echinocystis, Elaterium, 

 Oyelcmthera, &o. 



Teibe IV, SiCY0iDE.a!, NoMd. — Stamens 3-5 ; filaments usually connate. Ovary 1-celled ; 

 ovule solitary, pendulous. Sicyos, *8echium,, &c. 



Tbibe V. GOMPHOGYNE^, Hooh. ^;,— Stamens 5, free ; anthers 1-celled, dehiscing longi- 



QG 2 



