MALE BALSAM APPLE; a genus of the syngenesia order, belonging to the mouccia class of plants. The most remarkable species are, 1. The balsamina, or male balsam apple. This is a native of Asia; and hath a trailing stalk like those of the cucumber or melon, with smooth leaves, cut into several segments, and spread open like a hand. The fruit is oval, ending in acute points, having several deep angles, with sharp tubercles placed on their edges. It changes to a red or purplish colour when ripe, opening with an elasticity, and throwing out its seeds. 2. The elaterium, wild or spurting cucumber, hath a large fleshy root, somewhat like briony, from whence come forth every spring several thick, rough, trailing stalks, dividing into many branches, and extending every way two or three feet; these are garnished with thick, rough, almost heart-shaped leaves, of a grey colour, standing upon long foot-stalks. The flowers come out from the wings of the stalks: these are male and female, growing at different places on the same plant like those of the common cucumber; but they are much less, of a pale yellow colour, with a greenish bottom; the male flowers stand upon thick, short, foot-stalks, but the female flowers sit upon the young fruit; which, after the flower is faded, grows of an oval form, an inch and a half long, swelling like a cucumber, of a grey colour like the leaves, and covered over with short prickles. This species has one of its names from the property of casting out its seeds, together.