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1 1 Its. long and with, a diameter of 3 or 4 inches. The inside of
the pepo is filled with a fibrous web which is bleached till it
becomes white and soft and is used as an washing article like a
sponge. The fibres are also used for many other purposes as to
line the inside of slippers and hats, and to make summer shirts.
The young fruits and leaves are eaten as vegetables.
305. b. Luffa petola, Ser., var., Jap. Naga-hccJdma.
Riukiu-hechima ; a variety of the preceding, with its pepo about
6 fts. long, and of the same use.
306. Lagenaria VUlgaris, Ser., Jap. Hioian ; an an-
nual climber of the order Cucurbitacene cultivated in fields. There
are male and female flowers separately on the same plant. In
summer evening it opens its white flowers, and closes them in the
morning. Its fruits are ripen in autumn, and they are used to
make liquid- vessels by taking out the soft pulp and seeds, after
the pepoes were steeped in water, and drying afterwards. They
resemble cucurbita pepoes (136), differing only in forms. The
shape of the pepo is just like 2 balls with a narrow joint. The
length of the fruit is about 1 ft. There are many varieties, and
the common kind is eaten as the cucurbita pepo, but the variety
bearing small fruits can not be eaten, having a bitter taste.
306. b. Lagenaria VUlgaris, Ser., var., Jap. v-hiotan;
a variety of the preceding having a very large fruit. Generally
only one fruit is left on each plant, and for getting a very large
fruit several plants are grafted together.
3O6. c. Lagenaria vulgaris, Ser., var., Jap. Shaku-
hiotan, Hisago, Tsuru-kubi ; a variety of 306 with a long neck
at the top of the fruit just like a handle, its under part forming a
round body. It is just like a dipper in form and is used as a
dipper.
306. d. Lagenaria VUlgaris, Ser., var., Jap. Hyakiinari-Jiiotan
; a variety of 306 with small fruits about 4 inches