BOTANY. 155 
Carica papaya, the West Indian Papaw (pl. 71, jig. 14); a, the tree with 
the fruit; b, male flower; c, section of do.; d, stamen ; e, abortive pistil of 
the male flower ; f. a female flower ; g, pistil; 4, cross-section of the fruit ; 
i, a seed ; k, partial section of do. ; /, embryo. 
Orpver 141. Cucursiracea, the Cacumber Family. Calyx five- (rarely 
six-) toothed; the limb sometimes obsolete. Petals five (rarely six), 
distinct, or commonly more or less united with each other and coherent 
with the calyx, very cellular and often marked with reticulated veins. 
Stamens five, sometimes distinct, commonly united in three parcels (two 
and two, and one separate) so as to appear like three stamens only, rarely 
three and diadelphous ; filaments of each set sometimes connate ; anthers 
usually long and sinuous, or variously contorted or folded, two-celled, 
adnate, extrorse, commonly more or less connate. Ovary coherent with 
the tube of the calyx, usually of three (rarely of two or four) united 
carpels, sometimes one-celled by the obliteration of the partitions, or often 
with each carpel spuriously two-celled by the introflexion of the placenta 
from the axis until it reaches the dorsal suture. Fruit fleshy or juicy, rarely 
membranous, usually a pepo. Seeds anatropous, compressed, often 
enveloped by a juicy or dry and membranous arillus ; the testa coriaceous ; 
albumen none. Embryo straight; cotyledons foliaceous, palmately veined. 
Herbs with succulent stems, climbing by means of tendrils (which are 
transformed stipules, according to St. Hilaire). Leaves alternate, palmately 
veined. Flowers axillary, monecious or dicecious, or rarely perfect. 
Sub-order 1. Nandirhobee. Tendrils axillar. Three distinct styles. 
Three hollow cells, with many seeds ascending from the base. Example: 
Fevillea. 
Sub-order 2. Cucurbitee. Tendrils lateral. Styles united. Cells full, 
with a parietal insertion of the seeds. Section 1. Coniandree. Example: 
Coniandre. Section 2. Melothriee. Example: *Melothria. Section 3. 
Bryoniee. Examples: *Bryonia, Citrullus, *Momordica, *Lagenaria. 
Section 4. Cucumerinee. Examples: Cucumis, Cucurbita. Section 5. 
Telfairee. Example: Telfairia. Section 6. Cyclantheree. Example: 
Cyclanthera. 
Sub-order 3. Sicyoide@. Tendrils lateral. A single cell with a single 
ovule suspended from the summit. Example: *Sicyos. 
Some of the plants of this order are medicinal, others afford a pleasant 
fruit. Cucurbita citrullus is the water-melon. The pulp of the fruit of 
Citrullus colocynthis is known in the pharmacopeia as colocynth. The 
calibash or bottle gourd is the fruit of Lagenaria vulgaris. Elaterin is the 
active principle contained in the fruit of Momordica elaterium, or squirting 
cucumber. The cucumber, the pumpkin, the squash, and the vegetable 
marrow all belong to this order. There are about sixty-six genera, with 
three hundred species in all, of which seven genera and nine species belong 
to North America. 
Cucumis citrullus, Water-melon (Asia) (pl. 71, fig. 11); a, flowering 
branch; , flower; c-d, stamens; e, stigma; f, cross-section of fruit; g-t, 
embryo. 
155 
