N. O. CU0URBITACE.3E. 601 



The bitter water-melon is in Sind known as hirbut and is 

 used as a purgative medicine (Watt). 



Var— fistulosus, Stocks, H.F.B.I., II. 621. 



Vern. — Tandus, tendu, tinda, (H and Pb.) 



Habitat. — "This seems a peculiar form fairly local and 

 much less known than the preceding. Chiefly met with in the 

 United Provinces, Panjab and Sind, where it is specially desi- 

 gnated dilpasand. Cultivated along with other melons from 

 April— October." (Sir George Watt). 



It has thick stems, leaves sparingly lobed, and is plenti- 

 fully supplied with long somewhat hispid hairs. 



Use. — " The seeds are used medicinally." 



546. Cephalandra indica, Nand. h.f.b.i.ii., 621. 



Syn. — Momordica monadelpha, Roxb. 694 ; Coccinia indica 

 W. and A. 



Sans. — Vimba. 



Vern— -fcanduri, Ghol, Kundru (Pb.) ; Telakuchi (B.) ; 

 Tondla or Bimbi (Bomb.) ; Korai (Tarn.) ; Bhinb, Kanduri-ki- 

 bel (H.) ; Golaru, Kanduri (Sind.) ; Ghobe, gluru, galedu (Guz.) 

 Tonde-balli (Kan.). 



Habitat. —Throughout India ; wild in the hedges of the 

 Concan, in the rains as well as cultivated in the rainy season 

 principally. 



A climbing annual herb, scarcely hairy, tendrils simple. 

 Leaves 2-4in. diam., 5-angular, occasionally 5-lobed, pupillose 

 scabrid, distantly finely toothed, petiole lin. Male flowers : Pe- 

 duncle lin., jointed below the flower ; Calyx-lobes linear oblong ; 

 Corolla white campanulate, nearly lin ; lobes 5, long triangular. 

 Stamens 3 ; anthers exsert, connate, one 1-celled, two 2-celled ; 

 cells conduplicate. Ovary smooth oblong, style long, with 

 trifid stigmas. Ovules many, horizontal. 



Female Calyx and CorolJa as in male, peduncle about £in. 

 Fruit bright scarlet when ripe, fleshy, indehiscent, cylindric 

 smooth, l-2in. by f-lin. Seeds many, ovoid. 



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