cucurbitacejE. 135 



This plant is regarded as originally a native of Africa 

 and India. It is also cultivated in the Levant, Italy and 

 the South of France, and in the warmer regions of the 

 American continent, as well as in these Islands. It has been 

 remarked that it thrives best in maritime situations, as if 

 the sea air were favorable to its growth and productive- 

 ness. In this island it acquires the greatest perfection, 

 and no particular cultivation is required. The fruit is not 

 unfrequently a foot and a half in length, with the diame- 

 ter in proportion. As a proof of its abundance, I may 

 mention that the price varies from three-pence to six- 

 pence. 



The pulp is of a red colour with its cells filled 

 with a watery fluid, so that it dissolves nearly entirely 

 in the mouth. From this quality, it has received the 

 name of Water Melon. It is a most grateful fruit to the 

 inhabitants of warm countries, superior in its cooling 

 effects, as well in being grateful to the palate, to any of 

 the ices or other highly-prized preparations of the most 

 skilful confectioner. At the same time it is light of diges- 

 tion, agreeing with the weakest stomachs, and yielding 

 though sparingly a certain degree of nutriment. The 

 fruit even when removed from the stem, after being ex- 

 posed for some time to the mid day sun, is still found to 

 be cool and refreshing. 1 have given it with advantage 

 in fever. It is slightly laxative. The French have be- 

 stowed on the seeds of the Melons, the name of " sentences 

 froides" and have employed them in the form of emulsion, 

 in the treatment of inflammatory fevers. By the Arabian 

 physicians they are regarded as lithontriptic. 



IV. LlJFFA. 



Male flowers panicled, yellow. Tube of the 

 calyx hemispherical 5 the divisions longer than 

 the tube. Petals free, deciduous. Stamens 5, 

 free ; anthers very flexuose. Female flowers 

 solitary. Calyx with the tube oblongo-elavate ; 

 divisions shorter than the tube. Stamens sub- 

 abortive. Stigmata reniform. Pepo ovate 3- 

 locular. 



Name derived from huff, the Arabic name of luffa 



/SGYPTIACA. 



