348 
PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
rescence either of loose cymes or more frequently of racemes or spikes 
or entire axillary inflorescence may become solitary axillary. Flow- 
ers pentamerous, very rarely 
tetramerous, monoecious ( Bryonia 
alba) or dioecious ( Bryonia 
dioica ); sepals five, gamosepalous, 
adnate to ovary; corolla of five, 
rarely four gamopetalous petals 
varying in size and shape from 
small to large campanulate or 
broadly cup-shaped (Cucumber) 
and in color from greenish-yellow 
to greenish white to pure yellow 
to yellowish- white to white; 
stamens typically five, epigynous, 
with anthers either joined by pairs 
or synantherous; carpels usually 
three; ovary inferior, one- to 
three-celled. Fruit a pepo (a berry 
from an inferior ovary with thick 
skin). Seeds flat and exalbuminous. 
Fig. 190. — Colocynth — Portion of vine 
and whole fruit. (Sayre.) 
Official drug 
Bryonia N.F. 
Colocynthis 
Pepo 
Elaterinum 
Unofficial 
Watermelon Seed 
Momordica (Bal- 
sam apple) 
Part used 
Root 
Pulp of fruit 
Seeds 
Principle from 
elaterium 
Botanical origin Habitat 
| Bryonia alba 
l Bryonia dioica J 
Citrullus Colocynthis 
Cucurbita Pepo 
(cultivated varieties) 
Ecballium Elaterium 
Europe 
Africa and Asia 
Tropics 
Mediterranean 
region 
Seeds Citrullus vulgaris Southern Asia 
Fruit Momordica East Indies 
Balsamina 
Campanulacece or Bluebell Family . — Herbs of annual or more com- 
monly perennial growth rarely sub-shrubby or sub-woody in habit, 
frequently with laticiferous tubes containing a milky juice. Stem 
upright or feeble and spreading. Leaves alternate, simple, "exstipu- 
