N. 0. CUCURBITAOE^. 585 



and is applied over the shaved head in delirium (Watt). 

 In the Punjab, the pulp is applied to the soles, in " burning of 

 the feet." 



The pulp of the bitter variety is powerfully emetic and 

 purgative. In Bombay it is used in native practice as a 

 purgative ; it is also applied externally as a poultice. (Dymock.) 

 A decoction of the leaves mixed with sugar is given in jaundice 

 (Drury). 



531. Luff a cegyptica, Mill., h.f.b.i., ii. 614. 



Syn. : — L. pentandra, Roxb. 698. 



Vern, : — Ghia-turai, purul (H.) ; Dhundhul (B.) ; Nunibeerd 

 (Tel.); Bliol, bhatkerela, bhat-kakrel (Ass.); Palo (Nepal.) ; 

 Turi, lia-sada (Sind.) ; Dilpasand, teldoaka (C. P.); Ghosali, 

 parosa, parul, tnri-gonsali (Bomb.) ; Turia (Guz.). 



Habitat: — Very common throughout India ; often cultivated. 



Extensively climbing, hairy, annual herbs ; tendrils 2-3-fid. 

 Largely cultivated for its fruit, abundant in the rainy season in 

 the Concan. Leaves 4in. diam., reniform-orbicular, 5-angled 

 or somewhat 5-lobed, dentate, usually scabrous, punctate on 

 both surfaces, pubescent on the nerves beneath. Petioles 2in. 

 Male peduncles long, 6in. ; male flowers often approximate 

 near the summit ; pedicels short, each carrying a small ovate- 

 viscid entire bract, sometimes obsolete. Petals 5, f-lin., yellow, 

 often with elevated, hairy, green veins. Stamens 5. Female 

 flower solitary, peduncle l-3in. Fruit elongate, 5-12in., often 

 much longer, clavate, smooth, 10-ribbed, or somewhat 10-angular. 

 Seeds f by nearly £in., usually black, very narrowly winged, 

 smooth or very sparing, tubercled. 



Use : — The seeds are said to be emetic and cathartic, like 

 those of L. acutangula. They yield an oil. 



The oil is dark reddish-brown in colour, possesses a slight odour and is 

 semi-drying. 



Lewkowitsch determined the following constants ; Specific gravity at 15°, 

 0*9254 ; saponification value, 187*8 ; iodine value, 108*51 ; Reichert-Meissl value, 

 1*43; butyro-refractomer *' degrees," 62° at 40° ; insoluble fatty acids and 

 unsaponificable, 94.8. Two samples examined in the Indian Museum were 

 dark greenish in colour, had acid values of 33 and 36*4, and the insoluble 

 fatty acids melted at 34° and 35°. (Agricultural Ledger, 1911-12 No. 5 p. 147). 



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