SNAKE CUCUMBER 



285 



Individual plants of it are found bearing at the same time fruit 

 some of which are long and snake-like, while others are broad 

 and oval in shape. Sometimes even the same fruit will be thin 

 and snake-like near the stalk, and swollen at the other end into 

 the semblance of a Melon. The culture is almost like that of 

 the Melon. The plant does not grow well in the open air in the 

 climate of Paris. The Snake Cucumber is chiefly grown as a 

 curiosity, but it may be used for pickling, like the Gherkin. 



PRICKLY, or WEST INDIAN, GHERKIN 



Cuciimis Anguriay L. Cucurbitacece. Concombre des Antilles. 



Native of Jamaica. — Annual. — A creeping and very branching 

 plant. Stem slender, covered with rough hairs, from 6 to nearly 

 10 ft. long, and furnished with simple tendrils. Leaf-stalks as long 

 as the blade of the leaf, which is 

 divided into five or seven rounded, 

 slightly toothed lobes. Male 

 flowers yellow, very small, less 

 than \ in. in diameter, numerous, 

 on short slender stalks ; female 

 flowers long-stalked. Fruit oval, 

 green, with white longitudinal 

 streaks, turning pale yellow when 

 ripe, covered all over with fleshy 

 protuberances, which are pointed 

 or curved like true spines or 



prickles. When ripe it is about ^^^^ ^^^^^^ Gherkins. 



2 m. long, and over i m. m 



diamefer. The stalk is nearly twice as long as the fruit. The 

 interior of the fruit is almost entirely filled with the seeds. The 

 flesh is very scanty, but white, firm, and of a very agreeable flavour, 

 without any bitterness. Seeds small, oval, and rather swollen ; their 

 germinating power lasts for at least six years. In the Colonies the 

 fruit is eaten boiled or pickled. 



GLOBE CUCUMBER 



Cucumis prophetarum^ L. Cucurbitacece. Concombre des prophetes. 



Native of Northern and Central Africa. — Probably perennial, 

 but annual in France. — A plant with a rather short creeping or 

 climbing stem, which seldom exceeds from about 3 to 5 ft. in 

 length, and is very rough and a gray colour. Leaves also gray, 

 oval, and divided into five round lobes. Fruit oblong in shape, 

 about 2 in. long and about if in. in diameter, marked with 



