On the Occurrence of Vegetable Trypsin in 
the fruit of Cucumis utilissimus, Roxb. 
BY 
J. R. GREEN, M.A., B.Sc., F.L.S. 
Professor of Botany to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. 
F EW lines of research into the processes of vegetable 
physiology have led in recent years to more important 
results than that which has been concerned with the distribu- 
tion, character, and action of the several so-called unorganised 
Note. — In 1885-6, Brigade-Surgeon E. Bonavia, M.D., sent to Kew seeds 
of several Cucurbits. Of these he gave the following particulars : — 
‘Etawah, N.W.P., 20 Oct., 1885. 
•Next mail I shall send you seeds of three varieties of wild Cucumis > which I 
firmly believe are the wild parents of the famous Lucknow melons called “Chitla 
Kharbooja” (Spotted Melon) and others. These wild melons are called 
“ Kachree ” by natives. In common with the Carica Papaya (Paplta) they soften 
muscular fibre, and natives cook them with tough meat to make it tender. The 
milk of the common fig ( Ficus Carica ) has similar properties. It is not im- 
probable that all contain Papaine.’ 
Two of the varieties were grown at Kew and proved to be the Cucumis utilis- 
simus of Roxburgh, who gives Kakri as the vernacular name. C. utilissimus in the 
Flora of British India is reduced to a variety of C. Melo, Linn. It is a variable 
plant ; but the fruit is always elongate or cylindrical. 
‘Etawah, N.W.P., 9 Feb., 1886. 
* This hot weather I shall try and secure for you some seed of the Lucknow 
spotted melon, which I think owes its origin to the Kachree wild cucurbit I sent 
you seeds of. Please note that the papaine-quality of the latter was told me by a 
very intelligent native gentleman, and he was very sure that this quality was 
possessed to his knowledge by only three plants : — Papau, Kachree, Anjir. Anjir 
is the vernacular for the common Fig. He said he often used the Kachree fruit cut 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. VI. No. XXII, July, 1893 ] 
