100 BOTANY OF SOCOTRA. 



5. MELOTHRIA. 



Melothria, Linn. Gen. n. 50; Bentli. et Hook. Gen. PL i. 830. 



A considerable genus of the warmer regions of the globe, but most abundant 

 in Africa. 



% M. punctata, Cogn. in DC. Monog. Phanerog. iii. 615. 



Zehneria scabra, Sond. in Harv. and Sond. Flor. Cap. ii. 486 ; Hook. fil. in Oliv. Flor. Trop. 

 Afr. ii. 560. 



Socotra. Near Tamarida. B.C.S. n. 353. 



Distrib. South Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Abyssinia, and East Indies. 

 A very poor specimen is doubtfully referred to this species by Cogniaux. 



6. DENDROSICYOS. 



Dendrosicyos, Balf. fil. in Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. xi. (1882), 513. 



Flores monoici. Fl. £ fasciculati. Calycis tubus infundibuliformis, dentibus 5 patentibus 

 lanceolatis integris. Corolla fauci calycis inserta ad basin 5-partita, segmentis lineari- 

 lanceolatis integris. Stamina 3 ori calycis inserta, corollas adnata, filameatis liberis ; 

 antlierse arete cohserentes, una 1-locularis, cetera? 2-loculares, loculis rectis, connectivo 

 nonproducto. Ovarii rudimentum 0. Fl. ? . . . — Arbor parvus trunco magno atque 

 ramis paucis ad apicern fasciculatis. Folia palmatim 5-lobata v. partita, aculeata, scabrida. 

 Cirrbi 0. Flores $ magni, straminei. 



A very remarkable genus. Unfortunately I am not able to give a complete 

 diagnosis. We brought to this country plenty of specimens, but they have 

 been mislaid, and I am dependent therefore for my description upon some 

 male flowers preserved in alcohol, and a fragmentary leafing specimen sent by 

 Schweinfurth. Should our specimens be discovered, it may be possible in the 

 Appendix to say something more regarding the character of the plant. 



Here I may state that by the habit of the tree, which shows a soft rapidly- 

 tapering gouty stem, this genus is distinguished from all other Cucurbits, and 

 forms a most exceptional one in the family. Its alliances I am, in the absence 

 of female flowers, unable to determine. 



D. socotrana, Balf. fil. loc. tit. Tab. XXVI. 



Arbor podagrica trunco crasso succulento ssepe 3 ped. diam. albido corticali. Rami subpend- 

 entes tenues plus minusve aculeato-scabridi rugosi, juveniles dense papilloso-aculeati. 

 Folia sparsa 3 poll. diam. v. majora petiolata rotundato-cordata plus minusve 5-lobata 

 palmatinervia margine dentata aculeata scabrido-papillosa, juvenilia palmatisecta lobis 

 aculeatis scabridis et setis albidis nitidis vestita. Flores in fasciculos axillares breviter 

 pedunculatos conferti, foeminei pauci centrales terminales, masculi plures extend basales ; 

 pedicelli pubescentes striati ^-£ poll, longi ; bracteola? lanceolatce pubescentes J poll, 

 longae. FL $ : — Calycis tubus f-1 poll, longus, lobis acutis £ poll, longis scabridis. Pdala 

 acuta extus scabrida \ poll, longa. Staminum filamenta glabra £ poll, longa perfectorum 

 latiora apiceque bifida; antherse oblong* £ poll, longae. Fl. ? : — Fructus glanduloso-hirsutus. 



Nom Vern. Gamha or Gamhen (Schweinf.). Camhane (Wellst). 



