6 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



53896 to 53908— Continued. 



ways. The pulp is usually sweetish and pleasant and is eaten 

 by Europeans as well as by natives. A sweet edible oil is ob- 

 tained from the seeds, and the seeds and fruit pulp are used 

 medicinally. (Vol. 2, p. 627.) 



53900. Var. utilissima. A form cultivated in Bengal, the North- 

 west Provinces, and the Punjab during the hot weather and the 

 rains. -The fruit varies from short oval or cylindric to elongate, 

 2 to 5 feet long, and is either straight or curved like some varie- 

 ties of cucumber. It varies in color from dark green to nearly 

 white, usually changing to a bright-orange color when ripe. When 

 young it is much eaten by Europeans in the Northwest Provinces 

 in lieu of cucumbers, being in season long before that vegetable, 

 but not so highly flavored. When little more than half grown 

 they are pickled ; when ripe they have much the flavor of the 

 melon, and will keep for several months if carefully gathered and 

 hung up. They are also eaten raw and are much used in curries. 

 A sweet edible oil is obtained from the nutritious seeds, which are 

 also used medicinally. {Vol. 2, p. 631.) 



53901. Received as Cucumis moniordica. 



53902. LuFFA ACUTANGULA (L.) Roxb. Cucurbitacese. Gourd. 



A climber, native to northwest India, Sikkim, Assam, and eastern 

 Bengal. The fruit is highly esteemed by natives and is eaten in cur- 

 ries or dressed with clarified butter. When half grown it is one of the 

 best indigenous Indian vegetables, peeled, boiled, and dressed with but- 

 ter, pepper, and salt. When fully developed it is about a foot long, but 

 if allowed to grow longer than 4 inches it rapidly deteriorates in qual- 

 ity. The fruits, seeds, and leaves are used medicinally, and the dried 

 fibrous rind is used as a brush for sizing paper. (Vol. 5, p. 94.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 51230. 



53903. LuFFA CYLiNDRicA (L.) Rocmer. Cucurbitacese. Gourd. 

 (L. aegyptiaca Mill.) 



A native of India, cultivated or naturalized in most hot countries of 

 the world. In India it is common everywhere and is often cultivated, 

 especially on the plains. The fruit, which is smaller than that of L. 

 acutangula, is edible and is similarly used in curries, etc., by the natives. 

 An oil is obtained from the seeds; the seeds are used medicinally; and 

 the dry fruit, which is filled with an interwoven network of fiber, is 

 used as a flesh brush in Turkish baths. (Vol. 5, p. 96.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 49163. 



53904. MiRABiLis JALAPA L. Nyctagiuacese. 



A yellow, purple, or magenta flowered plant cultivated or spontaneous 

 over the greater part of India, being equally plentiful in the hotter 

 valleys of the northwest Himalayas, from the plains up to 7,000 feet, 

 and in the far east in Bengal, Manipur, and Burma. The plant is often 

 so prevalent near village sites as to exclude all other vegetation. The 

 leaves are said to be largely used as a vegetable at Ooson in the Salem 

 District. The powdered root and seeds are used in cosmetics, and the 

 root and leaves are used medicinally. (Vol. 5, p. 253.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47589. 



53905. OciMUM TENUiFLOEUM L. MenthacesG. 

 (0. sanctum L.) 



A somewhat shrubby herbaceous plant found throughout India, Burma, 

 and Ceylon and distributed in the Malay Archipelago, Australia, western 

 Asia, and Arabia ; it is cultivated occasionally as a potherb by Europeans, 

 for which purpose it is very useful. The leaves, seeds, and flowers are 

 used in native medicine. (Vol. 5, p. 444-) 



