38 



THE EDITOR'S MEDICAL BOTANY. 



TWENTY-FIRST CLASS, MONCECIA. 



Colocynth Plant, or Bitter Cucum- 

 ber ( Cucumis Colocynthus). 



This annual plant, which belongs 

 to the Jussieuan order, Cucurbi- 

 tacece, is a native of Africa, flow- 

 ering from May till August. The 

 male flowers have the calyx five- 

 toothed ; the corolla five-parted ; the 

 stamens three. The female flowers 

 have the calyx and corolla like the 

 male ; the pistil is three-cleft. The 

 fruit is the size of a small orange, 

 and of a yellow colour. It is the 

 fruit which is used after it has been 

 peeled and dried. 



a The male flower, containing 

 stamens. 



b The female flower, containing 

 pistils. 



TWENTY-SECOND CLASS, DKEClA. 



Hop (Humulus lupulus). 



This climbing perennial plant, 

 which belongs to the Jussieuan order, 

 Urticece, is a native of Britain, ex- 

 tensively cultivated, flowering in 

 July. The flowers are furnished 

 with flower scales. The male flowers 

 which are whitish, and grow in pani- 

 cles, have a five-leaved calyx and no 

 corolla. The female flowers have 

 a one-leaved, entire, spreading calyx 

 and no corolla. The fruit cones 

 (strobili), are egg-oblong and pen- 

 dulous. It is the cones, after drying 

 in a kiln, which are used. 



a, a branch of the male plant ; b, 

 the male flower, bearing stamens 

 only ; c, another ; d, a hop, or catkin 

 of flowers, from the female plant ; 

 e, a single scale of ditto ; with the 

 pistils and germ at its base ; /, the 

 same, enlarged. 



