Part 8

Glabrous shrub; branches angular, sometimes spinescent. Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, elliptic, ab. 1 in. long. Flowers in long axillary or terminal panicles, small, greenish yellow, smell like mignonette.

Berber Prov.; Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov.; Kordofan Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Sobat River, Tawfikia). Introduced.

The leaves are used to dye the finger nails and the palms of the hands an orange colour. The seeds yield an oil.

=PUNICACEÆ.=

132 =Punica granatum= _Linn._ RUMMĀN—Arab. The Pomegranate.

Shrub or small tree with large scarlet flowers. Fruit size of an orange; seeds surrounded by a pink, edible pulp.

Introduced from Asia.

=ONAGRACEÆ.=

133 =Jussieua diffusa= _Forsk._

Procumbent aquatic herb, usually supplied with pale pinkish spindle- shaped floats. Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, narrow at base. Flowers yellow; calyx 5-lobed, enlarged in fruit; pet. 5; stamens 10.

White Nile, Bahr El Ghazal & Mongalla Provinces.

=J. pilosa= _H. B._ & _K._ ARKALA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; LŪNG (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka.

Differs little from _J. diffusa_ Forsk. except by its erect habit and more hirsute young parts.

Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

=J. acuminata= _Sw._

Stems glabrous. Leaves lanceolate subacute, 3-4 in. long, ½-1 in. broad, glabrous or nearly so, pinnately several nerved. Fruits wrinkled, 1 in. long.

Khartoum Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by the Linduku Stream); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).

=J. villosa= _Lam._

Erect herb, 4 ft. high; stem woody, somewhat winged, hairy above. Leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate, ½ to 5 in. long. Flowers 4-merous, solitary, yellow, sessile, small. Capsule up to 2 in. long.

Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land).

=J. villosa= _Lam._ =var. linearis= _Jacq._

Erect, hirsute herb. Leaves narrow linear; fibres of old capsules persistent.

Nuba Mts. Prov. (Kadugli); Mongalla Prov. (Gondokoro).

=J. linifolia= _Vahl._ SOFSAF (N. Kordn.) & TOTO—Arab.

Erect herb, 2 ft. or more; stem narrowly winged. Leaves linear- lanceolate 1-3 in. long. Flowers small, yellow, 4-merous, sessile, axillary. Capsule cylindrical, 2/3 in. long.

Khartoum to Berber (banks of the Nile); Atbara; Blue Nile Prov.; Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Wau).

134 =Ludwigia jussioides= _Lam._

Erect herb, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves linear-oval to lanceolate, 1½-4 in. long, alternate. Flowers axillary, yellow, up to 1 in. in diam.; 4-5-merous. Capsules 1 in. long and 1/12 in. diam.

Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

=L. parviflora= _Roxb._

Erect annual, 6-18 in.; stem often angular. Leaves linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, tapering to base, ab. 1½ in. long. Flowers tetramerous, yellow. Capsule under ½ in. long, cylindrical, somewhat inflated, 4-veined.

Kordofan Prov. (Abu Gerad); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Addai).

135 =Trapa bispinosa= _Roxb._ CHUWALAGEIR (Kenissa)—Dinka. Water Chestnut.

Aquatic herb; stems ascending in water, giving off numerous pectinate roots. Leaves alternate, floating petioles dilated into floats; blades triangular, broadly dentate on upper edges. Fruit ab. 1 in. long, shield-shaped, armed with 2 curved, barbed spines.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Main River); Bahr El Jebel (Sudd).

Although it is not known in the Sudan as edible the fruit is much used in India as an article of food and is eaten raw or cooked.

136 =Epilobium hirsutum= _Linn._

Erect herb, hirsute, 2-5 ft. high. Leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate, serrulate, amplexicaul, 1-5 in. long. Flowers sessile, axillary, solitary; calyx tube narrow, elongate, 4-lobed; petals 4, pink or purple; stamens 8; stigma 4-lobed. Capsule 2-3 in. long.

Darfur Prov. (J. Marra).

=HALORRHAGACEÆ.=

137 =Laurembergia Engleri= _Schindler._

Low herb in swamps with reddish glabrous stems and alternate linear obtuse leaves scarcely ½ in. long. Flowers minute, sessile, axillary. Fruits muricate.

Bahr El Ghazal (Jur Ghattas).

=THYMELÆACEÆ.=

138 =Gnidia Mittuorum= _Gilg._

Heather-like undershrub, 4-12 in. high; stems 4-angled. Leaves oblong or obl.-obovate, ½-1 in. long. Heads terminal, 7-10 flowered; involucral bracts 3-4, ovate, ¼ in. long. Flowers brownish-yellow; pedicels minute, bearing a tuft of white hairs; calyx under ½ in. long; lobes 4, minute; petals 4 inserted on calyx tube, scale-like; stamens 8, sessile in calyx-tube, _in 2 rows_.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit: Deim Adlan, Mittu: Deragoh).

=G. Schweinfurthii= _Gilg._

Glabrous herb, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves scattered, lanceolate or oblong, ½-1 in. long. Flowers yellowish-brown in terminal heads of 15-25 fl., or in axillary 1-3 headed racemes; invol. bracts 4-5, ovate; calyx smaller than above.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Sabbi).

=G. apiculata= _Gilg._

Undershrub, 1½-3 ft. high. Leaves alternate, crowded, linear or narrowly elliptic, ½-2/3 in. long. Heads numerous, terminal, peduncled and lateral ones sessile, 10-15 flowered; invol. bracts 7-14 in 2 rows; calyx tube pubescent.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: Gumango hills); Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

139 =Lasiosiphon Kraussii= _Meisn._ BURURU—Golo.

Woody herb, 4-24 in. high. Leaves opposite, elliptic, lanceolate or narrow-ovate, ½-2 in. long. Heads solitary, terminal, many flowered; peduncles 1-4 in., velvety; invol. bracts 6-10, hairy; calyx yellow, hairy below, pubescent above, ½ in. long, 5-lobed; petals minute, scale- like; stamens 10, _in 2 rows_.

Nuba Mts. Prov. (Heiban); Darfur Prov. (J. Marra 6,000-9,500 ft.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur: between Kutshook Ali’s Zariba & the River Wau, between Pongo River & Jur, Dar Fertit, Golo Desert).

The crushed roots are used for poisoning fish. It is also a virulent poison to man and animals.

140 =Arthrosolen chrysantha= _Solms-Laub._

Virgate, bushy, or heather-like undershrub, up to 2 ft. high. Leaves scattered, linear, ¾ in. long. Heads terminal, solitary, many-flowered; invol. bracts ovate to linear; pedicel with ring of hairs; calyx tube ½ in. long; lobes 4; petals 0; stamens 8 _in 2 rows_.

Kordofan Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Dar Fertit).

141 =Dicranolepis Schweinfurthii= _Gilg._

Shrub or small tree. Leaves alternate, oblong or obl.-lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, 2-3 in. long, with yellow-brown hairs beneath. Flowers solitary, sessile, 1 in. long; calyx tube slender, lobes 5, ⅙ in. long; pet. 5, scale-like, forked; stamens 10, _in 2 whorls_. Drupe oval, ½ in. long.

Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: River Diagbe at Wando).

=D. cerasifera= _Gilg._

Shrub. Leaves variable, ovate to lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 1-2½ in. long, hairy beneath. Flowers 1-2 together, not seen. Drupe smaller than a cherry, reddish.

Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: by Diamwonu River).

=NYCTAGINACEÆ.=

142 =Boerhaavia elegans= _Choisy._

Tall branched herb. Leaves opposite, petioled, broadly ovate, 1½ in. long, whitish beneath. Flowers in lax, terminal, slender panicles, usually solitary, rarely 2-3-nate on the rachis; perianth tube cylindric, lower part persistent 5-angled, viscid ⅙ in. long, enclosing the fruit, upper part petaloid, shortly 5-lobed; stamens 2, exserted, connate at base.

Coast of Nubia.

=B. adscendens= _Willd._

Glabrous herb 2-3 ft. high. Leaves opposite, ovate-oblong or rotundate, up to 2 in. long, pet. 1 in. Panicles terminal, 9 in. long. Flowers umbelled, 4-9 at ends of panicle; perianth minute; fr. under ⅛ in. long.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli); Sobat.

=B. repens= _Linn._ RIGLA (Meshra El Zeraf)—Arab; TEB (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka.

Glabrous creeping or scrambling herb. Leaves in unequal pairs at the nodes, ovate or lanceolate, ab. 1 in. long. Peduncles axillary bearing 4-10 flowered umbels; per. minute, 5-ribbed, glandular between the ribs; lobes pinkish; fr. minute; stamens 1-3.

Red Sea Prov. (between Suakin & Berber: Wadi Abu Salem, Suakin, Erkowit, El Galabeheb & Khor Ashat); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Kordofan Prov. (Abu Gerad & Bara); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Darfur Prov. (Kulme); Upper White Nile Prov. (Meshra El Zeraf).

=var. diffusa= _Hook. f._ TERBA (N. Kordn.), LADUA (White Nile) & MUDDEYD (Egypt)—Arab.

More pubescent. Leaves ovate or ovate-rotundate; fr.-perianth less glandular.

Wadi Halfa; Khartoum Prov. (J. Royan); Blue Nile Prov.; Fung. Prov. (Fazoghli); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (El Obeid, Abu Haraza, Bara); Darfur Prov.; Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma).

The plant is eaten by the Sontals in India as a pot-herb. The root is used in infusion, or given in powder, and has laxative, diuretic and cooling properties. It has been prescribed for asthma with success. Taken in large doses it acts as an emetic. The plant is much used, in external applications, for dropsical swellings.

=var. viscosa= _Choisy._

More robust than type; stems and leaves densely glandular, hairy. Leaves ovate or subrotundate, sinuate, up to 1¼ in. long.

Red Sea Prov. (Erkowit, Soturba & 21° L.N.); Kordofan Prov.

=B. verticillata= _Poir._ SHINEMAQ (Blue Nile)—Arab.

Tall, much-branched, glabrous herb. Leaves broadly ovate, 2 in. long. Panicles of 3-5 flowered whorls and terminal umbels; per. minute, stalked glands at base; stamens 2.

Red Sea Prov. (Soturba; Sea-coast about 21° L.N., Wadi Surrawib; Wadi El Omari; Sinkat); Fung Prov. (Singa); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Bir Sodari).

=B. plumbaginea= _Cav._ ABU LEBBEN—Arab.

Scrambling or procumbent herb. Leaves broadly ovate, petioled. Flowers arranged as above; per. white or lilac up to ⅓ in. long in upper part, funnel-shaped, lower ⅓ in. long in fr. with 10 large glandular disks near apex.

Red Sea Prov. (Soturba, Khor Tamanib & Erkowit); Khartoum Prov.; Fung Prov. (Roseires); White Nile Prov. (12° 10 N.L.).

A decoction of the root is used for jaundice.

=B. pentandra= _Burch._ ERG EL TUEIRĀT (N. Kordn.)—Arab.

Procumbent herb. Leaves large, cordate-ovate, serrate. Whorls in large lateral and terminal panicles; bracts lanceolate, ½ in. long; pedicels ½ in. long; per. upper part funnel-shaped, ⅛ in. long, base ⅓ in. with many glandular disks at top; stamens 3.

Kassala Prov. (between Kassala & Goz Regeb); Blue Nile Prov. Ganeib Assad); Kordofan Prov. (Bara).

=PROTEACEÆ.=

143 =Protea abyssinica= _Willd._

Shrub or small tree. Leaves alternate, lanceolate or lanc. oblong, 6 in. long, coriaceous. Flowers in terminal turbinate heads surrounded by densely imbricate silvery and silky bracts, outermost minute, increasing inwards, innermost oblong, 1½ in. long; per. ¾ in. long, tubular, compressed, 2-tipped, fulvous hairy in upper half; stamens 4; anthers subsessile, ¼ in. long; nut hairy.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat: Matamma); W. Abyssinia (Baro, Sobat District & Blue Nile).

=P. madiensis= _Oliv._

Shrub or small tree; bark red-brown. Leaves lanc.-elliptic, 6-8 in. long, coriaceous, hairy both sides. Heads somewhat sunflower-like, up to 4 in. across; bracts glabrescent, outer ¼ in. long ovate, inner up to 3 in. long, pinkish; per. 2 in. long, yellow.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo; Sabbi, Niamniam: Tuhami’s Zariba, Biri River near Deim Zubeir: Swei River & Gumango River).

=DILLENIACEÆ.=

144 =Tetracera alnifolia= _Willd._

Climbing shrub. Leaves broad-elliptical or obovate-elliptical, entire or obscurely denticulate. Flowers paniculate, white ⅓ to 2/3 in. in diam.; sepals glabrous within.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Mittu-land: near Kuddu by the Roali River).

The stems when cut transversely yield a supply of potable fluid.

=T. strigillosa= _Gilg._

Undershrub, about 2 ft. high from a woody rhizome. Leaves oblanceolate, dentate. Flowers white, very few together; sepals glabrous inside; petals emarginate.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (near River Biri, and also Niamniam-land: by the Ibba River, Nganye).

=PITTOSPORACEÆ.=

145 =Pittosporum abyssinicum= _Del._

Shrub or tree. Leaves coriaceous oblanceolate, at first rusty tomentose. Flowers ¼ to ⅓ in. long in umbellate clusters in dense terminal corymbose panicles. Sepals rusty tomentose. Ovary pilose. Capsule globose under ½ in. diam.

White Nile.

=BIXACEÆ.=

146 =Bixa Orellana= _Linn._

Shrub. Leaves oblong lanceolate to ovate oblong. Flowers in terminal racemes, pink, large. Fruit covered by a mass of red-brown soft prickles, oblong.

Mongalla Prov. (Kagulu); Congo. Introduced and cultivated.

The source of Annatto.

=COCHLOSPERMACEÆ.=

147 =Cochlospermum niloticum= _Oliv._ AKIT—Jur.

Usually a woody dwarf-plant, but occasionally up to 3 ft. high. In the dwarf plants the large, solitary yellow flowers are seen just above the ground. Leaves palmate; seeds covered with cottony hair.

Southern Kordofan Prov.; Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Deim Zubeir, between Wau & Chakchak & Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (Bari & Madi countries); Nuba Mts. Prov. (near Talodi).

The swollen subterranean portion is used medicinally in Nuba Mountains Province, _i.e._, chewed as a tonic, etc.

=FLACOURTIACEÆ.=

148 =Oncoba spinosa= _Forsk._ ALDUKOI (Bahr El Ghazal)—Dinka; AKALAKWALA—Jur.

Spiny shrub with showy white flowers; spines up to 2 in. long. Leaves subcoriaceous, elliptical, short, acuminate, crenate-serrate or serrulate.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Bahr El Ghazal Prov.

The fruit is the size of a Tangerine Orange, and is used by the Dinkas to make a kind of rattle.

149 =Caloncoba Schweinfurthii= _Gilg._

Tree up to 30 ft. Leaves ovate-elliptic, rounded at the base, about 5 in. long. Flowers large and showy; petals 1¾ in. long. Fruit 1½ in. diam., apiculate.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: at Teh & Niamniam-land: by the Nabambisso River).

150 =Lindukeria dentata= _Oliv._

Shrub or small tree, up to 30 ft. high, glabrous. Leaves membranous, oblong-elliptic to elliptic, dentate-serrate, 3-10 in. long. Flowers up to ¾ in. diam., in loose axillary racemes, 1-3 in. long. Sepals 3; petals 6-10. Fruit globose, with spreading spines, about ½ in. in diam.

Belgian Congo (Niamniam-land: Wando).

=L. Schweinfurthii= _Gilg._

Shrub. Leaves oblanceolate, acuminate, serrate, 6-7 cm. long. Flowers few and very small in axillary cymes. Fruits small and echinate.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by the Linduku River).

151 =Flacourtia sp.=

Shrub. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, crenate, sub-mucronate to obtuse.

Bahr El Jebel (Madi).

=SAMYDACEÆ.=

152 =Casearia Engleri= _Gilg._

A tree. Leaves oblong-elliptic, rounded at base, shortly acuminate, about 6 in. long and 2½ in. wide, glabrous. Flowers small in axillary fascicles. Fruits like coffee berries, yellowish white, about ½ in. long.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land, Sine loc. Schwfth. III. 241).

153 =Homalium Abdessamadi= _Asch._ & _Schwfth._

Tree, 40 ft. high. Leaves 3 in. long by 2 in. broad, crenate-dentate, broadly elliptic, alder-like. Flowers paniculate, branches of panicle catkin-like. Fruits pilose.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (by the Ibba River, near Nganye).

=FRANKENIACEÆ.=

154 =Frankenia pulverulenta= _Linn._ EIRARIB—Hadendowa.

Small diffuse herb. Leaves opposite, often fascicled, obovate, oval or rotundate. Flowers rose to purple, sessile, solitary in the forks or fascicled in leafy heads or cymes. Calyx tubular 4-6 toothed; petals 4-6; stamens 6; ovary 1-celled.

Red Sea Prov. (Khor Gwob, Erkowit).

=TAMARICACEÆ.=

155 =Tamarix mannifera= _Ehrb._

Coastal tree or shrub. Leaves scale-like, encircling the stem, subacute. Flowers in dense spikes. Seeds long-pilose.

Red Sea Prov. (21° N. Lat.).

=T. nilotica= _Ehrb._ TARFA—Arab.

Riverside shrub with scale-like leaves and slender erect branches. Flowers white or pinkish-white, crowded in spicate panicles at the ends of branches.

Northern Sudan, Red Sea Prov.; Kassala Prov., etc.

=T. articulata= _Vahl._ FAREQ (Nubia), ABL (Egypt), TARFA (Sudan)—Arab; ERU—Hameg.

Tree with feathery foliage; branchlets articulate. Leaves minute, sheathing. Flowers loosely scattered on long slender spikes.

Red Sea Prov. (Baraka, Dongonab); Kassala Prov. (Gash); Fung Prov.

Wood white, moderately hard, when burnt green gives an offensive smell. Galls, called BIGM by Arabs, are used for dyeing and tanning.

=PASSIFLORACEÆ.=

156 =Adenia venenata= _Forsk._ KUDUR—Arab; LORING—Bari; KUDUL—Jur.

Soft woody climber; the lower part of the stem is often inflated and tuberous in appearance, up to over 1 ft. in diameter. Leaves alternate, palmately 5-lobed. Flowers cream coloured; unisexual; calyx tubular, 5-lobed; petals 5.

Red Sea Prov. (Sinkat); Nuba Mts. Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Meshra El Rek), also Jur-land & Niamniam-land); Mongalla Prov. (Sheikh Tombé).

=A. sp. Schweinfurthii= _Engl._

Climber; leaves ovate, 4 in. long, rounded and with 2 very large glands at the base. Flowers in short lateral cymes. Calyx tubular, ⅓ in. long; lobes lanceolate.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land; by the Boddoh River).

=A. sp.=

Climber; leaves linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, up to 6 in. long and 1¼ in. broad, minutely dotted below. Flowers ⅓ in. long.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur-land, Schwfth. III 109 & III 111).

=A. sp.=

Soft, slender stemmed climber. Leaves digitately 5-lobed, nearly 2 in. long, very thin, lobes lanceolate, subacute, minutely pubescent below. Flowers not seen. Fruits stipitate, narrowly ellipsoid, about 1.5 cm. long, with the persistent hairy calyx at the base.

Mongalla Prov. (Yei River).

=CUCURBITACEÆ.=

157 =Peponia Cienkowskii= _Hook. f._

Prostrate or climbing herb; tendrils simple or divided. Leaves ovate, cordate, 5-7 lobed, 3 in. broad. Flowers monœcious; calyx tube ⅓ in. long; petals large, white or yellowish; filaments 3, free, anthers cohering, one 1-celled and two 2-celled, conduplicate; stigma 3-partite. Fruit ovoid or cylindric, fleshy.

Fung Prov. (Fazoghli).

158 =Trochomeria djurensis= _Schwfth._

A slender climbing herb. Leaves more or less pentagonal and 5-lobulate, acute, widely cordate, scabrid; tendrils short. Male flowers with tubular calyx 1 cm. long, and minute lobes. Corolla-lobes linear- lanceolate, 2-3 cm. long; female flowers very small.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

159 =Adenopus breviflorus= _Benth._

Herbaceous climber; tendrils simple. Leaves palmately 5-lobed, apiculate. Flowers yellow, 1½ to 2 in. across; male flower: stamens 3, monadelphous. Fruit ovoid, mottled green when young, scarlet when ripe, size of a large egg.

Blue Nile Prov.; Upper White Nile Prov. (Melut); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land: by the Yabo River).

160 =Lagenaria vulgaris= _Seringe._

Musk-scented climbing herbs; tendrils forked. Leaves orbicular-cordate, more or less 3-7 lobed, toothed, 1-6 in. broad. Male flower solitary 2-5 in. diameter, white; filaments 3, free; anthers flexuous, cohering. Female flower smaller. Fruit woody.

Red Sea Prov. (21° N. Lat.); Between Berber & Khartoum.

161 =Luffa cylindrica= _Linn._ LUFA—Arab.

Semi-woody climber; tendrils forked. Leaves palmately 5-7 lobed, denticulate. Flowers yellow, about 2 in. across. Anthers in male flower much twisted and divided; filaments dilated at the base. Fruit mottled green when young, brown when ripe, with a dehiscing cap.

Khartoum Prov. (Cultivated); White Nile Prov. (12° N. Lat.); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas); Bahr El Jebel (wild).

Fruit called LIF in Arabic, when wild about 6 in. long; when cultivated up to 18 in. long. The fibrous, spongy substance which fills the fruit is used as a substitute for a sponge or brush, also for inside soles of shoes and the manufacture of sun helmets. The pulp is edible; an oil is obtained from the seeds, which are also emetic and cathartic.

=L. echinata= _Roxb._ WASSI, ARSH & UMSHWEIKA (White Nile)—Arab.

Herbaceous climber; tendrils forked. Leaves orbicular-reniform, 2-4 in. broad, scabrid, shallow-toothed. Flowers yellow, 1 in. diameter. Male flower anthers 3 flexuous; female flower 1-3 together. Fruit 1 in. long echinate.

Berber Prov. (Zeidab); Blue Nile Prov. (Abu Haraz); Fung Prov.; White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Upper White Nile Prov. (Bahr El Zeraf), Red Sea Prov. (Khor Gateb).

The fruit is said to have purgative properties and to be a remedy for dropsy. A mixture of the spongy tissue of the fruit and of milk (known by the Sudanese as “Wassi purgative”) is taken by barren women to stimulate pregnancy.

162 =Eureiandra Schweinfurthii= _Cogn._

Herbaceous climber; tendrils simple. Leaves deeply trilobed, about 3 in. broad, scabrid. Stamens 5, much twisted. Fruit narrowly, 2 in. long.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

163 =Momordica pterocarpa= _Hochst._

Climbing herb. Leaves digitate, 5-fol.; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, obliquely cordate, 2-4 in. long. Male flowers crowded at end of a peduncle with a hooded green bract ¾ in. long; corolla yellow, 1 in. diameter; anthers 3, cells nearly straight. Female flower solitary, ebracteate. Fruit 2-3 in. long, ovoid, pointed, with 8-10 short wings, red when ripe.

Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Niamniam-land).

=M. Balsamina= _Pinn._ (EL) SHA’ALUK & (EL) YEIR (Blue Nile), (EL) ERRA (N. Kordn.) & BEYLÄSĀN (Egypt), TAMR EL ABID—Arab.

Herbaceous climber; tendrils simple. Leaves palmate, 3-5 lobed. Flowers monœcious; male flower solitary on bracteate peduncle, yellow or white, centre black, anthers flexuous. Fruit fleshy, beaked, red when ripe, 1-3 in. long.

Red Sea Prov. (Sinkat & Karora); Blue Nile, Fung, Darfur & Kordofan Provinces.

The fruit is eaten, especially by the Fellata. In Syria it is used for curing wounds. The leaves are cooked and eaten; they are said also to be good camel fodder.

=M. Charantia= _Linn._

Herbaceous climber; tendrils simple. Leaves palmately 7-9-fid, cordate. Flowers yellow, monœcious, on long, slender peduncles, with a reniform bract near the base. Fruit about 1½ in. long, ovoid-fusiform, with longitudinal tubercled lines, with a decurved beak, orange when ripe; seeds enclosed in scarlet pulp.

Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla).

=M. Schimperiana= _Naudin._

Herbaceous climber. Leaves ovate, cordate, dentate. Fruit size of an egg, covered with soft bristles, scarlet when ripe.

Mongalla Prov. (Mongalla); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post).

=M. Morkorra= _A. Rich._

Glabrous or pubescent climber. Leaves ovate, cordate, 3-5 in. long; tendrils simple. Flowers monœcious; corolla rotate, yellow, 2 in. broad. Fruit ovoid, red when ripe, densely hairy, 1-2 in. long.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Fung Prov. (Roseires & Fazoghli); White Nile Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas and Niamniam-land, by the Nabambisso River); Mongalla Prov. (Gondokoro).

=M. multiflora= _Hook. f._

Slender climber. Leaves ovate, cordate, faintly sinuate-toothed, 2-6 in. long; tendrils simple or forked. Male flowers many on solitary or paired peduncles, hairy; corolla ¾ in. diameter; yellow; anthers 3, cells curved. Fr. ovoid, red, crowned with dried flower.

Mongalla Prov. (Bor).

=M. Cymbalaria= _Fenzl._

Climber with woody, tuberous root. Leaves orbicular-reniform, 1-2 in. broad, fleshy, 5-7 lobed; tendrils simple. Male flower racemose, hairy; corolla 5-lobed, ½ in. diameter, yellow; filaments 2, one 2- and one 3-cleft; cells twisted. Fr. spindle-shaped, 8-ribbed, greenish.

Blue Nile Prov.; White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Mongalla Prov.

The tubers are used to procure abortion.

164 =Cucumis Melo= _Linn._ AGUR or AJUR (N. Kordn., Wild form), FAGUS (Sweet Senat), AJUR (Bitter Senat), also SENAT, SENAT-TIBISH, & SENAT AJUR (Kordn.), AJUR EL KELB (Meshra El Zeraf) & SHAMMAM—Arab The Sweet Melon.

Prostrate or climbing, prickly herb. Leaves cordate, reniform or ovate, 3-5 lobed, irregularly toothed, scabrid, ½ to 1 in. long. Male flower fascicled 1 to many, small, yellow; anthers 3, cells twisted, connective produced, oblong, serrate. Fruit ovoid-globose, greenish-yellow.

Between Suakin & Berber (Wadi Abu Selem); Berber Prov. (Zeidab); Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Khartoum, Fung, Kordofan & Darfur Provinces. Cultivated and also wild.

=C. Figarei= _Del._

Trailing and climbing herb; tendrils simple. Leaves scabrid, 5-7 deeply lobed, toothed, 1-2 in. diameter. Flowers hairy, yellow, small. Fruit broad ovoid, covered with blunt tubercles.

Between Suakin & Berber (Wadi Omareg); Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); White Nile Prov. (J. Nyemati, Jebelein); Kordofan Prov. (Obeid & Mulbes); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Bongo-land: Sabbi, Shambe); Darfur Prov. (Kulme).

=C. Prophetarum= _Linn._ HABASHKOL (N. Kordn.)—Arab.

Annual climber with stiff, rough hairs. Leaves 3-5 lobed, 1¼ in. broad. Male flower yellow, hairy; anthers 3, appendaged. Fruit broad ovoid; green, with pale longitudinal bands, covered with soft spines, 1½ in. long.

Red Sea Prov.; Fung Prov. (Jongol’s Post); Kordofan & Mongalla Provinces.

The fruit is bitter and is used as an emetic.

=C. dipsaceus= _Ehrenb._ AJUR EL GHAZAL (Meshra El Zeraf) & AJUR—Arab; APET (Meshra El Zeraf)—Dinka; ABDALOUR—Jur; ABERTGH (Meshra El Zeraf)—Shilluk.

Slender herbaceous climber; tendrils simple. Leaves rounded or oblong- reniform, entire or shallowly 3-5 lobed; scabrid, 2-4 in. broad; petioles bristly. Male flower hairy; anthers appendaged. Fr. broadly ovoid, ½ in. long, densely bristly.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Dongola Prov. (Old Dongola to Merowe); Khartoum Prov.; Blue Nile Prov. (Dinder mouth); White Nile Prov. (J. Arashkol); Kordofan Prov. (Meginas); Darfur Prov.; Bahr El Ghazal Prov.

=C. sativus= _Linn._ KHIAR—Arab. The Cucumber.

Climbing herb, stem hispid. Leaves 3-5 lobed. Fruit fusiform-oblong, green, tubercled.

Cultivated everywhere.

=C. metuliferus= _E. Mey._

Herbaceous climber. Leaves palmately 3-5 lobed, toothed, stiffly pubescent, 2-4 in. diameter each way. Male flower: anthers 3-appendaged. Fruit long, ovoid, 3-5 in. long, with scattered stout conical prickles, orange when ripe.

Blue Nile & Mongalla Provinces. Cultivated.

=C. Pepo= _DC._ ARAA or GARAA KOSSA—Arab.

Prostrate herb. Leaves deeply 5-lobed. Petioles and leaf-nerves prickly. Fruit oblong, large.

Cultivated. Vegetable Marrow.

165 =Bryonopsis laciniosa= _Linn._

Slender climber; tendrils forked. Leaves 5-7 in. broad, 5-7 lobed, cordate, scabrid, serrate. Male and female flowers in the same leaf axil; corolla campanulate, small, yellow; stamens 3, anthers cohering, flexuous. Fruit globose, 1 in. diameter, green, striped with yellow.

Red Sea Prov. (21° N. Lat.).

166 =Mukia scabrella= _Arn._

Hispid herbaceous climber; tendrils simple. Leaves cordate, almost triangular. Flowers monœcious, small, yellow, male and female together in axillary clusters. Fruit almost globose, with a few scattered hairs, ½ in. diameter, scarlet.

Kassala Prov. (Gallabat); Between Suakin & Berber (Gireshab); Upper White Nile Prov. (opposite Tonga Mission); Bahr El Ghazal Prov. (Jur Ghattas).

Used medicinally on the West Coast as an aperient and sudorific, and also for flatulency.

167 =Zehneria cordifolia= _Schwfth._

Slender climber. Leaves cordate or triangular-cordate, 1½-2 in. diameter. Male and female flowers in the same axil. Flowers white. Fruit a berry, ¼ in. diameter, globose.