CUCURBITACEjE. 543 



1. K am vi a Samoensis, Sp. Nov. 



K dioica, glabra; cirrhis simplicibus ; foliis cordatis acuminatis denti- 

 culatis modice petiolatis ; floribus masculis umbellatis vel corymbosis e 

 pedunculo brevissimo, foemineis solitariis ternisve, pedunculo bacca 

 ovoidea polysperma breviore; seminibus lasvibus compressis. 



Var. p. Vitiensis : foliis supra scabridis; pedunculis fructiferis brevis- 

 simis. 



Hab. Samoan Islands; on Manua and Upolu. Var.? (3. Ovolau, 

 Feejee Islands. 



A slender, extensively climbing, apparently dioecious, glabrous vine, 

 not unlike K. umbellata, Arn., in habit, not glaucescent. Tendrils 

 simple. Leaves cordate, with rounded lobes and a deep sinus, more or 

 less acuminate, denticulate, sometimes a little repand-toothed, membra- 

 naceous, smooth both sides, from 2 to 4 inches long, rather conspi- 

 cuously petioled: the petiole of the larger leaves an inch or two in 

 length and exceeding the sinus; those of the smaller upper leaves 

 only half an inch long, and scarcely equalling the sinus. Flowers 

 axillary: only the sterile ones occur in the specimens, and very 

 sparingly. Male floivers in small umbels or corymbs; the common 

 peduncle short or wanting ; the pedicels 2 or 3 lines long. Calyx 

 hemispherical or slightly campanulate, with 5 short and subulate 

 teeth. Petals 5, ovate, acute, inserted by a broad base on the 

 summit of the calyx-tube, scarcely exceeding its lobes. Stamens 3, 

 distinct, inserted in the base of the calyx, included : anthers linear- 

 oblong, somewhat sagittate, longer than the filaments, two-celled, 

 similar, or perhaps one of them a little narrower than the others : 

 the cells straight, linear, more or less pubescent at the junction with 

 the narrow connective inside. A short, three-lobed gland takes the 

 place of the gynsecium. Female flowers not seen. Berry ovoid, 

 resembling that of a Melothria, half an inch long, on a peduncle or 4 

 or 5, or sometimes only 2 lines long, many-seeded. Seeds closely 

 packed in 3 vertical rows, ovate, compressed, apparently flat, smooth 

 and even, whitish, with an abrupt but not margined edge. 



