Many useful plants are in this order, some for food, some for
medicine ; some are poisonous. Chiefly natives of the tropics.
C uctjrbita. L. 19. 15.
From a word that means a vessel, from the use to which the
shell of the fruit of some species was anciently applied, as the
gourd. The 13 species are chiefly of Indian and African origin ;
none indigenous to this part of the country.
C. pepo. L. Pompion, or Pumpkin. From the Levant.
C. ovifera. L. Egg Squash. From Astracan.
C. verrucosa. L. Club Squash. From the Levant.
C. melopepo. L. Flat Squash. From the Levant.
C. lagenaria. L. Gourd, Calabash. From India.
C. citrullus. L. Water Melon. From the South of Europe.
Of most of these species, there are several varieties, differing
in some character of importance. Of the Water Melon, some
are large, and with large seeds, and of reddish or white color
within ; others are small, and have small seeds, and some citronlike,
and yet retaining their peculiarities with much constancy.
Of the Squash, each kind has endless varieties ; and, unless
they are cultivated separately, there can be no dependence upon
the variety that may be hoped for from the seed.
The Pompion, or Pumpkin, for so it is written in England as well
as in the United States, is more certain, and the varieties are more
permanent. The seven-year pumpkin is a great curiosity, for its
unchanging nature ; I have seen one which appeared fully sound
and unaltered, which was more than three years old, and had
stood upon a shelf exposed to all the common changes of the air.
The common pumpkin is the standard variety, and too useful to
need remark. Its seeds are distinctly diuretic, and, in some degree,
the fleshy part of the fruit. One variety grows to an enormous
size ; and that from Ohio is remarkably sweet. In England the
pumpkin is cultivated to considerable extent. “ When the fruit
is ripe, they cut a hole on one side, and having taken out the
seeds, fill the void space with sliced apples, adding a little sugar
and spice, and then, having baked the whole, eat it with butter,
under the name of pumpkin pie.” Loudon. This English pie
is very different from the pumpkin pie of New England, so
necessary to Thanksgiving, that a Yankee, it is said, cannot be
without it, and that in one town the good people actually postponed
the day of Thanksgiving till the needed molasses should
arrive for its composition. Our pumpkin pie is likely to be a
permanent manufacture and article of consumption in the season,
and not to be displaced by any substitute.
C ucumis. L . 19. 15.
Has a similar derivation with the preceding genus, and its 17
species chiefly belong to the eastern continent. We are familiar
only with 2 species, both natives of India.
C. sativus. L. Cucumber. Too well known to need description,
and, by cultivation, now showing nearly a dozen varieties,
half that number being common in the gardens.
C. melo. L. Muskmelon. The reason of the English name
is obvious to all who have tasted this fruit. The specific name
is derived from the Greek word for apple, from the shape of some
varieties of this melon, as that' of C. colocynthis, which has the
“ size and color of the orange.” One variety of the Muskmelon
is commonly called canteleup, or, as often written, cahtelope, a
very delicious fruit. There are many varieties cultivated, as the
yellow, long, netted, green, citron, nutmeg, egg, &c.
M omordica. L. 19. 15.
Has its name from the Latin to chew, from the chewed appearance
of the seeds ; has about a dozen species, nearly all belonging
to India.
M. echinata. Muhl. Balsam Apple. Wild Cucumber.
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