522 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. U885. 



CUCURBITACE-2EJ. 

 Cucurbita perennis, Gray. (Calabacilla.) 



This creeping vine, with its large, rough, whitish, triangular leaves, is 

 very abundant in all valleys of Western Texas, and extends to Cali- 

 fornia. The fruit, when ripe, is about the color and size of an orange. 



Brewer and Watson state, in Fl. Gal., " that the pulp of the green fruit 

 is used with soap to remove stains from clothing, and that the macerated 

 root is used as a remedy for piles and the seeds are eaten by the Indians." 



The leaves bruised between the fingers emit a nauseous smell. When 

 eaten by cows in the spring, as sometimes happens, a very disagreeable 

 flavor is given to their milk and butter. 



This plant has an enormous fleshy root which enjoys medicinal proper- 

 ties among Texans, but I was not able to ascertain what they are. 



Apodanthera undulata, Gray. (Melon Loco.) 



Common in places. As the name indicates, the fruit is considered 

 poisonous by the Mexicans. On the contrary, the large napiform root 

 is said to be esculent. 



Maximowiczia (Sicydium) Lindheimeri, Watson. 



Common in the valleys of Southern and Western Texas. Thrifty or- 

 namental vine, climbing over trees and bushes, with beautiful scarlet, 

 pendent berries, the size of large pigeon's eggs. 



Citrullus vulgaris. (Watermelon.) 



Found in the wild state, west of the Pecos, in many places where the 

 seeds were carried by water or other agencies. 



KRAMERIACEiE. 



4 



Three species and one variety of Krameria are common in Western 

 and Southern Texas. They all contain tannin, and, like K. triandra of 

 South America, to which they are closely allied, may be found useful 

 medicinal plants. 



They are : K< lanceolata, a decumbent herb, only ligneous at the base ; 

 K. parvijolia and its var. ramosihima y low, straggling, much branched 

 bushes ; K. canescens, small bush, one to three feet high, particularly 

 abundant in the Great Bend of the Rio Grande. The latter is called 

 Chacate by the Mexicans who use an infusion of the bark of the root to 

 dye leather brownish -red. 



COMPOSITE. 



Helianthus aunuus, L., including H. lenticularis of Douglas. (Common Sunflower.) 



Abundant in all valleys. Seeds used for food by Indians and to fat- 

 ten poultry by Mexicans, yielding by expression a fair quality of oil. 



Grindelia squarrosa, Dunal. (Gum Plant.) 



Common on prairies west of the Pecos, and, like its congener, G. ro- 

 busta of California, probably useful in bronchial affections and as a 

 topical application in poisoning by Rhus toxicodendron. 



