The bitter water-melon is in Sind known as hirbut and is used as a purgative medicine (Watt).
Var— fistulosus, Stocks, H.F.B.I., II. 621.
Vern. — Tandus, tendu, tinda, (H and Pb.)
Habitat. — "This seems a peculiar form fairly local and much less known than the preceding. Chiefly met with in the United Provinces, Panjab and Sind, where it is specially designated dilpasand. Cultivated along with other melons from April— October." (Sir George Watt).
It has thick stems, leaves sparingly lobed, and is plentifully supplied with long somewhat hispid hairs.
Use. — " The seeds are used medicinally."
546. Cephalandra indica, Nand. h.f.b.i.ii., 621.
Syn. — Momordica monadelpha, Roxb. 694 ; Coccinia indica W. and A.
Sans. — Vimba.
Vern— -Kanduri, Ghol, Kúndrú (Pb.) ; Telákuchi (B.) ; Tondlâ or Bimbi (Bomb.) ; Korai (Tam.) ; Bhinb, Kanduri-ki-bel (H.) ; Goláru, Kanduri (Sind.) ; Ghobe, gluru, galedu (Guz.) Tonde-balli (Kan.).
Habitat. —Throughout India ; wild in the hedges of the Concan, in the rains as well as cultivated in the rainy season principally.
A climbing annual herb, scarcely hairy, tendrils simple. Leaves 2-4in. diam., 5-angular, occasionally 5-lobed, pupillose scabrid, distantly finely toothed, petiole lin. Male flowers : Peduncle lin., jointed below the flower ; Calyx-lobes linear oblong ; Corolla white campanulate, nearly lin ; lobes 5, long triangular. Stamens 3 ; anthers exsert, connate, one 1-celled, two 2-celled ; cells conduplicate. Ovary smooth oblong, style long, with trifid stigmas. Ovules many, horizontal.
Female Calyx and Corolla as in male, peduncle about ¼in. Fruit bright scarlet when ripe, fleshy, indehiscent, cylindric smooth, l-2in. by ½-lin. Seeds many, ovoid.
