NHD53/3

Melon

Cucumis melo L.; Cucurbitaceae family

Original inscriptions: 香瓜 (front lower right in ink, attached to page with pin);

Further inscriptions: H. Sh. (front lower left in ink)

Flowering and fruiting twigs of a melon plant. One main twig curls left to right across the page, with many secondary stems and tendrils branching out in each direction. Most mature leaves have one opposite curled tendril. Leaves are deltoid with serrate margins and palmate golden veins, reticulate surface. Two leaves are yellowish with brown deteriorated margins. On the left: individual flowers stemming out directly from the twig, one open flower, stellate with pink petals; one (female) flower shown from the bottom, with pubescent ovary and pink petals; one (male) flower bud. On the same twig, one small immature fruit, round oblong shaped, with green skin and longitudinal ridges. Bottom centre: a mature fruit depicted attached to the plant, much bigger than the immature example, yellow-orange to green external colour, with reddish longitudinal ridges. Lower right: illustration of a horizontally dissected fruit, showing white fleshy interior and inner seeds. Skin is orange, with red longitudinal ridges; seeds are numerous, clustered in three groups. One seed is shown laterally, cut horizontally; the seed is of oblong pointy shape. Lower left: illustration of dissected flower showing green pedicel, five sepals, receptacle with pink stamens, and five oblong white petals.

Any further details: Page cut on left, top and right sides. Lower right corner of the page damaged. White paint partly oxidised.