Benincasa pruriens (Parkinson) de Wilde & Duyfjes

Commonly cultivated in the plains of Punjab and Sind.

Stem much branched. Petiole long-villous. Leaves reniform-rotundate, base deeply cordate. upper surface pilose or scabrous, lower surface shortly hispid, lamina 10-25 cm long and as broad, 5-7-lobed, lobes ovate-triangular, margin sinuate, dentate or crenulate. Tendrils slender, rarely simple, or 2-4-fid. Peduncle hirsute. Male inflorescence 5-15 cm long, female 2-4 cm long. Calyx tube 10-15 mm long, densely hairy, lobes lanceolate, acute, 6-12 mm long. Petals spreading, obtuse-mucronate, 3-5 x 2-4 cm. Staminal filaments inflated and hispid at the base, anthers trilobed. Ovary 2-4 cm long; style 2-3 mm long. Fruit fleshy, 25-50 x 10-25 cm, densely hairy when young, waxy when mature. Seeds com¬pressed, ovoid, white, c. 10 x 6 mm.

Distribution: India, Pakistan, Malaya, Eastern Australia, Polynesia, China & Japan. Probably not found in wild state anywhere.