370 CUCUBBITACJEJE. [Momoedica. 



distinct forms grown within the area. The rainy- season kind, known ag 

 Icareli, hears a smaller fruit and is more esteemed than that of the hot- 

 weather crop. The frait and other parts of the plant are used medi- 

 cinally. 



2. M. Balsamina, imri. ; W. Sf A. Prod. 348; Boyle III. 218; Watt 

 E. D. ; Cogn. in DC. Mon. Phan. in, 439. 



Stem slender, much hranched, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves 1^-3 in. in 

 diam., orbicular in outline, palmately 3-5-lobed to the middle, punctu- 

 late on both surfaces ; lobes acutely lobulate, mucronate ; petiole f -1^ 

 in., hairy towards the base. Flowers monoecious. Male peduncle 1-3 

 in., hairy towards the apex; hract attached near the top, orbicular, 

 cordate, denticulate, variegated. Calyx-lohes linear lanceolate, acute or 

 acuminate. Petals ^-^ in. long, yellowish, dark-brown at the base. Fern. 

 jped ancle less than f in., ebracteate. Fruit 1-3 in., ovoid, rostrate, 

 orange-red, usually quite smooth. Seeds i in., compressed, nearly 

 smooth. 



Dehra Dun (Eoyle). Distrib. Punjab Plain and Sind, extending to 

 Australia, and from Trop. Africa to the Cape. Introduced in America. 

 The fruit is eaten as a vegetable, and when young it is used as a pickle. 



3. M. dioica, Boxl. ex Willd. 8]). PI- iv, 605 ; Fl. Ind. Hi, 709 ; W. Sf A. 

 Prod. 348; Dene in Jacquem Voy . Bot. t. 71; tioyle 111. 219; D. & G. 

 Bomb. Fl. 102; F. B. 1. ii, 617; Cogn. in DC. Mon. Phan. Hi, 441. 

 M. Ealsamina, Wall.; W. ^ A. Prod. 349 (not of Linn.). 

 Perennial, with a tuberous root. Stems slender, branching. Leaves 2-4 in. 



long and broad, cordate, ovate, acute, entire denticulate or more or less 

 3-lobed, glabrous, often punctate beneath ; petiole 1-2 in., without glands. 

 Flowers large, dioecious, yellow lUale jjeduncle 2-6 in., with a glabrous 

 or hairy cowl-like bract embracing the expanded flower. Uaiyx-lohes 

 linear-lanceolate, acute. Petals 1 in. long. The 2-anthered filaments 

 2-fid half-way down. Fein, peduncle as long as that of the male, bract I 

 small, below the middle. Fruit 1-3 in., ovoid, shortly beaked, densely 

 covered with soft spines. Seeds many, compressed, corrugated on| 

 margin, nearly smooth on the faces. 



Common within the area. Disteib. Throughout India to Ceylon, ascend- 

 ing to 5,000 ft. on the Himalaya. In flower during the rainy season.! 

 The young fruit is eaten in curries, and the tuberous roots are also| 

 eaten. 

 4 M. cochinchinensis, Spreng ; F. B. I. ii, 618 ; Watt E. D. ; Cogn. in\ 



DC. Mon. Phan. Hi, 444. M. mixta, hoxb.; Fl. Ind. Hi, 709; W. &• A 



Prod. 349. 



An extensively climbing perennial with a tuberous root. Leaves 4<-5 in. 

 in diam., suborbicular in outline, cordate, ) ovate, usually 3-lobed,| 

 glabrous or nearly so, entire or nndul te-dentate, firm, punctate be- 

 neath; petiole glandular. Floiuers dioecious, large, whitish. Mali 

 peduncle 2-6 in., usually shorter than the leaves ; bract embracing the! 

 expanded flower, often hairy. Calyx teeth large, oblong-lanceolate,! 

 acute, coriaceous, dark-green. Petals 1-2 in., white tinged with yellowJ 

 3 with black spots, 2 with yellow glands. The 2-anthered filaments notj 



