N. o. cucurbitace^:. 603 



anthers connate, one 1 -celled, two 2-celled, cells concluplicate. 

 Corolla 3-4 in. Male peduncle din. Female Calyx and Corolla 

 as in the male. Female peduncle ljin., fruiting peduncle stout, 

 corky striated, not grooved. Ovary oblong, style short, stigmas 

 3, bifid ; ovules very many, horizontal ; placentas three. Fruit 

 fleshy, indehiscent, often large ; pulp yellow. Seeds, ovoid or 

 oblong, compressed, about half an inch long, |-in. broad. 



Uses. — The seeds are used medicinally. The oil is used as 

 a nervine tonic. The pulp of the fruit is often used as a 

 poultice (Watt). 



An ounce of the seeds fried with their husks, mixed with 

 sugar, and taken at bed time, and in the morning, followed by 

 Castor oil, has been found an effectual anthelmintic in tape 

 worms (S. Arjun). 



The part of the fruit stalk in immediate contact with the 



ripe gourd, is removed and dried, and when made into a paste 



by rubbing in water, is considered a specific for bites of 



venomous insects of all kinds, cheifly for that of the centipede 



(P. Kinsley, in Watt's Dictionary). 



Four samples of the oil received in the Indian Museum from Allahabad, 

 Cuddapah, Punjab and Mandalay, were examined in 1907. The first three 

 were yellow in colour, while the fourth was greenish-brown and flourescent ; 

 they solidified about zero (Centigrade). The following maximum and minimum 

 constants were noted : Specific gravity at 15°, 0*919 to 0'926 ; acid value, 6*38 

 to 17*65 ; saponification value, 1949 to 197*1 ; iodine value 88-7 to 133*4 ; 

 Reichert-Meissl value, 0*48 to 0*67 ; fatty acids and unsaponifiable, per cent. 

 94-3 to 95*8 ; melting point, 32° to 38°. (Agricultural Ledger 1911-12 No. 5). 



548. C. Pepo, Dc. h.f.b.i., ii. 622 ; Roxb. 700. 



Vern.— Kumra (B.) ; Safed Kaddu (H) ; Kaula (Bomb.); 

 Kohala (Mar.) ; Kumbala kagi (Kan.) ; Petha (Pb.) ; Potti- 

 gummadi. Budade gummadi (Tel.) ; Pani-kakharu (Orissa). 



Habitat. —Cultivated throughout India. 



An annual extensive climber. Tendrils 2-4fid. Leaves 

 5-lobed, roughly bristly, almost prickly ; sinus between lobes 

 broad. Blade 4-6in. diam., softly hairy when young, hispidulous 

 on the nerves beneath, denticulate, lobes acute, often slightly 

 lobed ; petiole often nearly as long as the blade ; hairs on the 



