SEEDS. 
117 
two plano-convex cotyledons ; slightly odorous when 
contused ; taste bland. 
Constituents. — Fixed oil about 40 per cent.; starch 
about 30 per cent.; proteids; an aromatic principle; 
an acrid resin, a glucoside (cucurbitin) and possibly 
an alkaloid (cucurbitine), the presence of the last two 
principles needing confirmation ; ash 3 to 4 per cent. 
Allied Plants. — The seeds of other members of 
the Cucurbitaceae are also employed in medicine; they 
include the seeds of watermelon ( Gitrullus vulgaris), cu- 
cumber ( Cucumis sativus), muskmelon (Cucumis melo) 
and lagenaria ( Cucurbita Lagenaria). 
STKOPHANTHUS. 
The ripe seeds of Strophanthus Kombe Oliver and 
Strophanthus hispidus De Candolle (Fam. Apocynacese), 
twining shrubs found in Senegambia, Upper Guinea 
and other parts of Western Africa (S. hispidus), and 
the Kombe country and other parts of Eastern Africa 
(S. Kombe). The plumose awns at the apex of the seeds 
are usually removed before exportation. 
Description. — Hemi-anatropous, oblong-lanceolate 
or spatulate, acute or acuminate, unevenly flattened 
and in transverse section deltoid or plano-convex, 8 to 
15 mm. long, 3 to 5 mm. broad, 1 to P5 mm. thick 
( S . Kombe being the larger); externally yellowish green 
(S. Kombe), or light brown (S. hispidus), covered with 
long hairs giving a silky appearance to the seed 
(S. hispidus being less hairy), the raphe extending as a 
distinct ridge from the hilum about half the length of 
the seed; fracture short; internally whitish, endo- 
sperm about 0'2 mm. thick, embryo 6 to 12 mm. long 
and 1 to 2 mm. broad, cotyledons plano-convex, about 
1 mm. thick, liypocotyl conical, 2 mm. long; inodor- 
ous except when broken ; taste very bitter. 
