140 CALYCIFLOILE. 



2. Momordica Charantia. Hairy Cerasee. 



Leaves septemlobato-palmate dentate subhir- 

 sute, cirrhi pubescent, fruit oblong acuminate an- 

 gulated tuberculated saffron-coloured or red, pulp 

 yellow soft, bractea cordate very entire below the 

 middle of the peduncle, seeds oblong tubercul- 

 ated, arillus scarlet. 



Momordica subhirsuta, Browne, 353. — M. Charantia, 

 Linn. Spec. 1433.— Sims Bot. Mag. 2455. 



HAB. On fences. Cultivated. 



F L. After the May and October rains. 



Stem herbaceous, pentagonal, sulcated, subhirsute, es- 

 pecially at the joints. Leaves subglabrous above, sub- 

 hirsute beneath, especially the under surface of the nerves, 

 ciliated and irregularly serrated : petiole 1^-2 inches in 

 length : cirrhi simple, pubescent. Peduncle 2j to 3 

 inches long, filiform, sparingly pubescent. Bractea situ- 

 ated below the middle of the peduncle, sessile, orbicular, 

 apiculated, semi-amplexicaul, entire, ciliated, nerved. $ 

 Calycine segments oblong, acute. Corolla three times 

 longer than the calyx ; segments longitudinally 5-veined 

 Filaments triadelphous, short, robust : anthers cohering. 

 9 As in the male, but the peduncle elongates and be- 

 comes incrassated as the fruit ripens. Stamens none, but 

 in their places five small glandules encircle the base of 

 the style ; one of them being single, the others in pairs 

 Style short : stigmata 3, subcapitate, green. Ovary tu- 

 berculated, cylindrical, attenuated at both ends, 3-celled. 



We are informed that the fruit of this species is much 

 prized by the Cochin-chinese as a potherb. It supplies 

 one of the ingredients of the celebrated pepper-pot of the 

 West-Indies. It is supposed to possess similar medicinal 

 properties as the preceding species. 



VII. Sechium. 



Flowers monoecious. £ Calyx subquinque- 

 dentate. Corolla closely united to the calyx. 

 Stamens 4-5, monadelphous, free at the apex, di- 

 verging : anthers cordate, distant. ? Calyx and 

 corolla as in the male. Stamens O • Style 



