1 Theatrtm Botanicum 
r R I B F I’f 
1640 Chap.ii I. 
Chap. CXI. 
Dttrior.es, The prickly fruitfu '1 Melon. 
He Dmior.es may feeme the fame with the former laca, becaufe they come neare in fomcthings 
but they much differ in others, as you fhall perceive by this defeription. The treegroweth to be 
very great and tall, the Timber whereof is tirongfirme and found, covered with a thicke afhco- 
loured barke, fpreading plentifully into branches and (fore of fruit, having leaves that are f ome- 
vvhat long and pointed, dented about the edges, ofa brownifhgreene colour on the upper fide, 
and pale grecne underneath: the flowers are of a pale orwhitifh yellow colour, and tlie ftuite 
groweth to the bignefle of a Muskc Melon, 
with a thicke greenifh rinde fet full of fliorte Purines. Tteprictly fruitful! Melon, 
and thicke but fharpe prickles, having Come 
ftrakes thereon as the Melon hath: it hath with, 
in it being opened fourc cells or divilions all the 
length of it,in every one of which lye three or 
foure white fruits as bigge as Hens egges (for 
if they containe five a peece they are not held 
to bee fo good, neither yet if they looke 
yellowifh,and not white they judge them fpoi- 
led by the wet falling into the chinkes) like un- 
the Man gar hitmen of the Spaniards, but not fo 
foft or muccilagie and tafte like unto Creime, 
fuelling lomewhat fweet alfo : each of thefe 
fruits have endofed within the® a kerncll like 
unto that of the Peach fione, which is fomc- 
w hat long and infipide, yet making the tbroate 
harfhlike unto an unripe Medler, and chete- 
fore are not eaten : Tbeie fruits are to be light¬ 
ly troden on to breaks them bccaufe of the 
prickes, which to them that never did fmell 
themoreatcofthembefore.may feeme to fmell 
like rottenonions,but having tailed of them wil 
tbinke them both to tafle and fmell better then 
other meats : for among the natives they arc 
held in fo good account that they thinke they 
can never be fatisfied with them.- but if any by 
eating too liberally of them lhall (care to fall in¬ 
to a Surfeit, or to take any other harme by them, 
they fhall be inftantly helped ar.d eafed, if ey- 
thcr they lay a leafe of Betre upon the fiomack 
or eate fome of the leaves thereof : forfo great 
an antipathy there is between thefe two plants, 
that if fome leaves of Betre be brought into a 
fiiippeorhoufe,where thefe fruits are laydand 
kept, they will all rot and putrefies fo that it 
hath not beetle knowne that any have taken 
harme by eating of them. 
Chap. CXII. 
Totccka Americana Tcrvanx. The Indian fruitfull Gourd bearing Almond, 
or the Indian Almonds of ( 7 ufius. 
! He tree that bcareth this fruite groweth very great and high, the body being bare of branches or leaves 
I unto a very great height whereit fpreadeth into branches Handing in compaffe together almoft like a 
i Crowne, with faile great broad long leaves fee on them greater than ones hand, fomewbat like 
r but much greater then thofe of ^iepanhoome ofa darke grcenc colour on the upper fide, and fome- 
what white or mealy underneath : the flowers breakc forth among the leaves in fcvdrall places, and are of 
a darke greene colour, after which come the fruit, very great when it is ripe and round like a Bowie, but 
flat on one fide whofefhell is as hard as a bone, hardly admitting to bee bored or filed, and of a darke brow- 
ni[h colour dented in, ffriped and crumpled almoll like unco Corkc, fo great that one can hardly com- 
pafle ic with both ones hands and the fingers ftretchedout at length, the height alio being neare the fame fiz.; 
this fruite intheinfi.de is divided into fix cells or particions by hard skinnes, in every one whereof is conteincd 
eighteen or twelve nuts lying orderly piled as it were one upon another, each of which are three fquare, fome- 
a 1 what 
