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9. Cucumis sativus Linn. Sp. PI. 1012. 1953. (Fig. 167).
Cucumis muricatus Wall.—Cucumis hardwickii Royle.
CUCURBITACEAE
Engl. Cucumber; Sinh. Pipingna; Tarn. Pipingkay; Hindi Khira; Sans. Bahuphala,
Kandalu, Kantakilata, Kantakiphala, Kantalu, Koshaphala, Pitapushpa, Sudhavasa,
Sushitala. Trapukarkati, Trapushpa. Tundilaphala.
A medium sized, hairy, tendril climber; leaves simple, alternate, 11 — 16 cm long, 10—
14 cm broad, broadly ovate-cordate, acuminate, 5-veined, shallowly 3—5 lobed, hairy on both
sides, veins prominent below; petioles 5—8 cm long, cylindrical, hairy; flowers unisexual on
the same plant, bright yellow, male flowers in axillary clusters, female flowers solitary, about
3 cm in diameter; calyx fused at the base and with the corolla; calyx segments 5—7, linear,
hairy; corolla open, hell-shaped to rotate, hairy, 5—7 partite; stamens 3—5, free, epipetaious,
filaments short, anthers contorted, stigmas rudimentary; female flowers solitary, calyx and
corolla same as in the male; ovary inferior, I .5—2.5 cm long, spindle shaped, ash green, studded
with bulbous hairs, stigmas 5 with a circular disc around at the base; fruit large, globular
to oblong elongated, yellowish or brown, smooth or.with sharp elevations; seeds flat, white,
about 6 mm long.
Illustrations. Ames, Economic Annuals and Human Cultures. 79. 1939; Kirtikar and
Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 459. 1933.
Distribution. Cultivated throughout India, Ceylon, lndo-China and Philippine Islands.-
Composition. The fruit contains dextrose, saccharose, ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid oxidase
and a fixed oil. The seeds also contain a fixed oil. phytine and lecithine. The'fruit is a good
source of iron and calcium containing very little vitamin A and fair amounts of vitamins B, C and
G. The fruit of the wild bitter variety contains a proteolytic enzyme and an unknown bitter
substance. The leaves contain urea.
Uses. The fruit is used as a vegetable or a salad. The raw cucumber is eaten for sprue.
In lndo-China. the immature fruit is cooked and given to children for dysentery. The seeds
are considered cooling and used as a diuretic and taenicide. In Madagascar, the fruit is
considered anthelmintic. The fruit juice is used in.the preparation of many cosmetic preparations
as it imparts its characteristic odour. The juice of the bitter variety banishes cockroaches,
moths and woodlice.
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