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CUCURBITACEAE
7. Cucumis callosus (Rottl.) Cogn. in Engl. Pflanzenr. Cucurb., Cucum. 129. 1924. (Fig. 165).
Cucumis cailosa (Ser.) Als.—Bryonia callosa Rottl.—Momordica lambertiana Ser.—Cucumis
Irigonus Roxb.—Cucumis pseudo-colocynihis Roylc
Sinh. Gon-Kekiri; Tarn. Kattuttumatti, Metukku; Hindi Bhakura, Bislambhi,
Bislombi, Gorakhakakadi, Janglindrayan, Scngha; Sans. Bahuphalla, Chira, Chitraphala,
Chitravalli, Devi, Garakshivriksha, Godumba, Kapilakshi, Katphala, Kumbhasi, Laghuchirbhitta,
Maruia, Mrigadani, Mrigachirbhitta. Mrigakshi, Mrigervaru," Mrigeshana, Pathya,
Schvetapushpa. Vichitra, Vishala.
A perennial herb with numerous, prostrate, more or less quadrangular, hispid stems and
simple tendrils; leaves simple, alternate, 5—12 cm long aryi as broad, broadly cordate-ovate,
more or less deeply 5-lobed, lobes rounded, dentate, scabrous on both sides, petioles 3—8 cm
long, hispid; flowers regular, unisexual, monoecious; male flowers in small clusters, shortly
stalked about 1.5 cm in diameter; sepals 5, fused into a campanulate calyx-tube, very hairy,
segments setaceous; petals 5, connate \ way up, segments elliptic, hairy, acute; stamens
3, filaments very short, anthers small, connate, hairy, female flowers solitary, sepals and petals
same as in the male, calyx-tube constricted above the ovary; ovary inferior, ovoid, 1 cm long,
hairy, style short, slender, stigmas very large; fruit ellipsoid or oblong,4—6 cm long, 2.5—2.8 cm
in diameter, longitudinally variegated with 10 green stripes, pale yellow when ripe and softly
tomentose, pulp bitter: seeds white, ellipsoid, not margined.
Flowers from February to April and in August and September.
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pis. 497 and 496. 1840—43; Kirtikar and Basu,
Indian Med. Plants./?/. 456: 1933.
Distribution. Occurs throughout India and Ceylon. It is rather rare in Ceylon, confined
to the dry regions. Mannar, Anuradhapura, Minneriya, Batticaloa and Tissamaharama.
India. Maisor and Carnatic: C. Thomson; Coimbatore, Clarke 11510E, April 1870.
Ceylon. North Western Prov., Mannar, Crawford 110, 1890; North Central Prov., Thwaites
CP. 1618; Eastern Prov., Minneriya, Herb. Peradeniya, Sept. 1885; Southern Prov , Tissamaharama
Simpson 9922, Aug. 1932.
Uses. The pulp of the fruit is very bitter and is a drastic purgative. In Malabar,the fruit
is given for insanity and to strengthen the memory. The seeds are useful for bilious disorders
and for diabetes. According to Roberts the juice of the fresh leaves as well as a decoction
of the roots are given internally for snake-bites. The root has diuretic properties and is useful
in cardiac, renal and hepatic dropsy and in nephritis, pyelitis, cystitis and gonorrhoea. It also
has antilithic properties and is frequently used for treating urinary gravel and calculi.
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