240 Dr. Francis Hamiiron’s Commentary 
whence the specific name is derived, and which seems to have been very 
remarkable in the specimens, from which Linnzeus took his account, “ ramis 
bifariam valde flexuosis.” This character is not noticed in the Flora Zeylanica, 
although there can be no doubt that the same plant was meant. It is, how- 
ever, retained in the Hortus Kewensis, where the plant is growing. ‘This leads 
me to suppose that even in India there are several species of Physalis nearly 
allied to the Solanum somniferum of ancient botanists; and, in order to put a 
stop to any supposition of their being the Pee Vetti, I shall here describe those 
which I saw. Both varieties are called by the Bengalese Sugunda, and in the 
vulgar Hindwi dialect Usgund; but by writers on the Materia Medica, using 
a higher style, the name is written /sganda ; and all these words are no doubt 
corruptions from Aswagandha of the Sanskrita. The plants grow in every 
part of India among impure rubbish near villages, such as that in which the 
Hyoscyamus, Datura, and other narcotic Solanacee delight, and probably pos- 
sess analogous qualities. Their habit differs so much from that of the Physalis 
with esculent berries, that I doubt the propriety of including them in one 
genus. 
The first variety or species which I shall mention I have called 
PuysaLts SUGUNDA. 
Radix forte perennis? Caulis lignosiusculus, erectus, duos vel tres pedes altus, 
ramosus, pubescens, teres, ramis rectis subdichotomus. Folia lanceolato- 
ovata, acuta, integerrima, costata, venosa, pubescentia ; inferiora alterna ; 
superiora sepius geminata. Petiolus non stipulaceus, brevis, teres, supra 
planus, pubescens. 
Pedunculi plures, axillares, conferti, uniflori, petiolo multo breviores, pubes- 
centes, ebracteati. Flores parvi, absque macula in corollze fundo herbacei, 
odore gravi pubescentes. : 
Calyx cylindricus, decemangularis, ore quinquefido, patulo. Corolle calyce 
paulo longioris tubus incrassatus, brevis: limbus campanulatus, decem- 
angularis, laciniis ovatis, patulis quinquefidus. Filamenta quinque e tubi 
parte inferiore enata, basi crasso subulata, longitudine corollam fere 
equantia. Anthere cordate. | Germen superum, ovatum. Stylus teres, 
Stigma capitatum. 
