Chinese Medical Journal

34 THE CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL

EXPLANATION OF FIGURES

The specific identification of the pumpkin seeds obtainable from groceries and used in this work was made by Prof. Ku’ang Ko-Zen (E WT #), Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Peking, to whom the author wishes to express his sincere thanks. Prof. Ku’ang states that in China the species earliest to be introduced and now most widely cultivated with the fruit used in the ripe state is Cucurbita moschata, known in Peking as lao wo kua # & j\. The fruit is variable in shape and color (Figs. 1-5). The seeds obtainable in groceries (Fig. 6) chiefly belong to this species, though occasionally seeds of the other two species, C. pepo and C. maxima, may be found intermixed.

Areca nut, also called betel nut, and specifically known as Areca catechu (Figs. 8 and 9) needs no special comment.

Fig. 1. Longitudinal section of the long form of pumpkin. x 1/5. Figs. 2 and 3. The long form of pumpkin, side view. X 1/5.

Fig. 4. The depressed form of pumpkin. ~« 1/5,

Fig. 5. Longitudinal section of same. xX 1/5.

Fig. 6. Roasted pumpkin seeds, the kernel (left) and the intact seeds (vight). x natural size.

Fig. 7. Pumpkin plant growing in the field. x 1/8.

Fig. 8. Intact areca nut top view (upper) and side view (lower). X natural size,

Fig. 9. Slices of areca nut as are obtainable from Chinese drugstores. X natural size.