Trichosanthes.] 
LVII. CUCURBIT ACEiE. 
693 
4. T. Hearnii (After Dr. W. E. Hearn), F. v. M. Herb.\ Benth. FI. Austr. 
iii. 315. Of this there are two male fragments in F. v. Mueller’s collection 
under the name of T. Hearnii. Leaves broadly cordate-ovate, denticulate and 
sometimes obscurely sinuate-lobed, like those of T. dioica, Roxb. (now united to 
T. nervifolia ) and T. cordata, but, instead of being scabrous-pubescent only, they 
are densely and softly villous underneath. Male racemes on long peduncles. 
Bracts persistent, oblong or lanceolate, entire or toothed, but only 2 or 3 lines 
long. Calyx-tube slender, attenuate at the base, above Ain. long ; lobes narrow, 
acute. Petals broadly oblong, densely fringed with long cilia. 
Hab.: Rockingham Bay, Dallachy (Herb. F. v. Mueller). 
A male specimen in Herb. R. Br., from the islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, in bud only, 
may belong to the same species, but some of the leaves are deeply divided into 2 to 5 lobes. — 
Benth. 
2. LAGENARIA, Ser. 
(From lagena, a flask.) 
Calyx in the males, and free part of it in the females, campanulate or tubular, 
with 5 teeth or lobes. Corolla campanulate, deeply 5-lobed. Stamens in the 
males 3, shorter than the calyx-tube ; filaments free ; anthers 2 with 2 cells, 1 
with 1 cell, the cells linear, flexuose, bordering the connective. Ovary in the 
females from obovoid to cylindrical, with 3 placentas, and numerous horizontal 
ovules ; style short, thick, with 3 bifid stigmas. Fruit large, indehiscent, with a 
hard rind and fungous flesh. Seeds variously shaped. — Large climber. Tendrils 
2-branched. Flowers white, both males and females solitary. 
The genus consists only of a single species. 
1. la. vulgaris (common), Ser. in DC. Prod. iii. 299 ; Benth. FI. 
Austr. iii. 316. A coarse climber, often emitting a musky odour, more or 
less pubescent or villous. Leaves rather large, broadly orbicular-cordate, angular 
and denticulate or obscurely or shortly lobed. Tendrils usually 2-branched. 
Male flowers rather large, white, on peduncles of 2 to 4in. • Calyx-tube turbinate, 
about Jin. long; lobes or teeth linear, shorter than the tube. Corolla expanding 
to 2 or 3in. diameter. Female flowers rather smaller, on shorter peduncles. 
Fruit very variable in shape and size. 
Hab.: From Broadsound to Port Denison, Thozet. 
The species appears to be indigenous in Asia and Africa, but is much cultivated and establishes 
itself in many tropical and subtropical countries. It includes the Bottle and many other 
Gourds. — Benth. 
3. LUFFA, Cav. 
(From the Egyptian or Arabian name of one species, often spelt “ Loofah.”) 
Calyx in the males, and free part of it above a narrow tube in the females, 
campanulate or turbinate, with 5 teeth. Corolla rotate, deeply divided into 5 
oblong-obovate or obcordate lobes. Stamens in the males 3 or rarely 5 ; 
filaments free, or 2 connate and the third free ; anthers protruding from the 
calyx-tube, two with 2 cells, one with 1 cell, the cells flexuose, the connective 
without any appendage. Ovary in the females elongated, with 3 placentas and 
many horizontal ovules ; style columnar, the stigma divided into 3 bifid lobes ; 
rudimentary gyncecium in the males a small gland. Fruit dry, oblong or 
cylindrical terete or ribbed, fibrous inside, the small hard conical end (or base of 
the style) circumsciss and deciduous. Seeds oblong, compressed. — Prostrate or 
climbing annuals, often large. Leaves palmately 3 or 7-lobed. Tendrils 
branched. Flowers rather large, yellow or white, the males in pedunculate 
racemes, the females solitary. Fruits usually rather large. 
The genus comprises a few Asiatic and a greater number of African species. 
