Melotheia.] CUCURBITACE2E. 377 



1. C. maxima, DucTiesne; F. B,I.n,622; Cogn.inDC. Mon. Phan, 

 Hi, 544; DC. L'Orig. PI. Cult 199; Field ^ Gard. Crops 5S ; Watt E. D. 

 {The great Pumpkin or Spanish Gourd).— Although reported to he 

 under cultivation within the area of this flora, all the specimens under 

 ihis name which 1 have examined were undoubtedly C. moschata. 

 Wights' t. 507, named C. maxima Duch., is certainly C. moschata, 

 and Atkinson repeats the error in his "Notes on the Economic Products 

 X)f the N.-W. Provinces." It is said to have been found wild on the 

 banks of the Niger in Guinea, but the evidence obtained from historical 

 Tesearch favours the opinion that it originated in Asia, and subsequently 

 became the source of the European pumpkins cultivated during the 

 Middle Ages. The principal varieties of C. maxima are the great yellow 

 gourd, the Spanish gourd and the Turban gourd. 



2 C. Pepo, Linn.; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. Hi, 718; W. ^ A. Prod, 351; F. B. I. 

 vi,622; Cogn. in DC. Mon. Phan. Hi, 545 ; DC.L'Orig. PI. Cult. 202 i 

 Field j- Qard. Crops ii, 53; Watt E. D.— This, the true Pumpkin, is 

 grown in many private gardens within the area, and to some extent by 

 natives, but not as a field-crop. It has been confused by many Indian 

 writers with Benincasa cerifera as well as with Lagenaria vulgaris. It 

 is now considered to be a true native of America, and the source of the 

 various American gourds and pumpkins, some of which were in existence 

 prior to the discovery of that country. A form of this species (C. ovifera) 

 is the vegetable marrow. 



3. C. moschata, Duchesne; F. B. I. ii, 622; Cogn. in DC. Mon. 

 Phan. Hi, 546; DC. L'Orig. PI. Cult. 204; Field Sf Gard. Crops ii, 58, 

 t.t. LVHI-LXl; Watt E. D. C. Melopepo, Lour {not of Linn.) Roxh. Fl, 

 ind. Hi, 719. C. maxima, Wall {not of Duch.); W. ^ A. Prod. 351; Wight 

 Ic. 507.— Yevn. Sitaphal, mitha Icaddu (the Musk or Melon pumpkin). 

 The original home of this species is not known for certain. It is now 

 widely cultivated in both hemispheres, and appears to require a more 

 tropical climate than that which suits C. m,axima ^ C. Pepo. It is grown 

 to some extent within the area of this flora as a field-crop. 



U. MELOTHRIA, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind., 625. 



Annual or perennial climbing or prostrate herbs. Leaves entire 

 or more or less lobed, usually membranous. Tendrils usually simple. 

 Flowers small, monoecious, rarely dioeoious, yellow or white. Males 

 in racemes corymbs or clusters, rarely solitary. Calyx campanalate, 

 sliortly 5-tootlied. Corolla deeply 5-partite, lobes entire. Stixmcns 

 3, inserted in the tube of calyx ; anthers usually free, one I'celled, 

 the others 2-celled, or all 2-celled ; cells straight, rarely eui-ved, connec- 

 tive sometimes prolonged. Female flowers solitary fascicleil or 

 corymbose. Calyx and corolla as in male. Style short, with an 

 annular disk at the base ; stigmas 3, rarely 2, or stigma 3-lobed. 

 Ovules many, horizontal, on 3 or 2 vertical placentas. Fruit a berry, 



