980 
CUCUMIS africanus. 
African Cucumber, 
—-—. 
MONGCIA MONADELPHIA. 
Nat. ord. CucURBITACER. 
CUCUMIS.—L. Monoicus. Calyx Momordice, sed major campanu- 
latus, laciniis exterioribus subulatis. © g. Stamina Momordice, tegentia 
discum centralem 3-gonum truncatum. ¢. Filamenta 3 sterilia. Stylus 
brevissimus; stigmata 3 crassa bipartita. Pomum magnum 3-loculare, 
dissepimentis membranaceo-succosis, polyspermum, seminibus gemino ordine, 
ovatis compressis margine acuto. Folia Colocynthidis et Angurie pal- 
mato-lacimata, ceterorum cordata; pedunculi breves uni- aut multiflori. 
Fructus Cucumeris T. oblongus subcylindricus superficie inequalis carnosus 
insipidus edulis, Melonis T. ovatus carnosus edulis suavior superficie sulcatd 
aut reticulata, Colocynthidis 7. ovatus minor carne siccd amard non eduli, 
Angurie T. parviflore ceteris minor echinatus aquosus pulposus edulis. 
Juss. gen. 396. 
C. africanus ; pomis ovalibus echinatis, foliis palmatis sinuatis, caule angu- 
lato. Linn. suppl. 423. 
C. africanus echinatus minor. Herm. parad. bat. 133. t. 134. 
C. africanus. Thunb. prodr. 13, Willd. sp. 4. 611. 
It is uncertain at what time this plant was first intro- 
duced into our gardens; probably at an early period of our 
communication with the Cape, of which country it is a 
native. It is not, however, taken up in the last edition of 
the Hortus Kewensis. 
At present it is often seen among collections of tender 
annuals in the gardens of the curious. Trained to a few 
slight stakes in a garden-pot, it forms an elegant ornament 
of the greenhouse. It will even thrive in the open air, if 
protected by a hand-glass in chilly weather. ; 
Our drawing was made at Mr. Colvill’s Nursery. 
