I have been following this thread from the minute it appeared... I see
many KAKROL plants in rural bengal as we drive by... and sometimes
stop... to look... this did not at first glance look like Kakrol (M
dioica) we see here....
AND I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE DOUBTING>>>MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT my
doubts (although arising out if technical ignorance) were well
founded... See Dr. Gurucharan Singh ji's comments...
This what I have learnt from this thread........
1) Photography and presentation of the question:
For any unknown cucurbitacaee it is important to not just get good
shots of the face of flowers and leaves (front and Back) but measure
the flowers across...
and if possible ( like it was here, since the maker is holding the
flower...) take a profile view of the flower... this is esp so in case
of separate male and female flowers... or plant itself being one or
the other sex... ands so that the length of the flower tube, abd
pedicle etc is visible and be judged...
2) Not to start agreeing with one or two or three well known botanist
(s) ... until an exacting taxonomist studies it...
Curucumis sativus... the ordinary cucumber is miles apart in terms of
fruits' anatomy and medicinal values from Mamordica dioica....
SO we learnt a valuable lesson today...
Thanks Gurucharanji...
Usha di ....
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