Class V. Order I. 81 



84. HYOSCYAMUS. 



HVOSCTAMUS NIGER. Henbane. 



Bigelow, Medical Botany, PI. xvii. 



Lower leaves sinuatecl and clasping ; flowers ses- 

 sile. 



Of the natural order of luridcc like the last, equally poisonous, 

 and of no less utility in medicine. The whole herb has a glau- 

 cous or sea-green colour, is hairy and viscid, and emits a rank 

 offensive smell. The stalk is one or two feet high, round branch- 

 ing and rigid. The first leaves spread upon the ground, and have 

 some resemblance to a young thistle. They are large, oblong, 

 frequently contorted, clasping, cut into acute lobes, and pointed; 

 the upper ones generally entire. 



The flowers form a revolute, one sided spike at the end of the 

 stem or branch, leaving, as they fall off, a straight row of cap- 

 sules. The calyx has five short acute segments. The corolla if 

 funnel shaped, irregular, with five spreading, obtuse segments. 

 of a pale yellow or straw colour, with a beautiful net work of 

 purple veins. Stamens inserted in the tube of the corolln, with 

 large oblong anthers. Style slender, longer than the stamens. 

 declined with an obtuse stigma. Capsule two celled, roundish, 

 covered with a lid, and invested with the persistent calyx, the 

 segments of which extend beyond it, and become rigid and prick- 

 ly. The seeds are numerous, small, unequal, brownish, and are di~- 

 charged by the horizontal separation of the lid. Road sides, &c 

 June and July. Biennial. 



85. VERBASCUM. 



VERBASCUM THAPSUS. L. Common Mullein. 



Leaves decurrent, woolly on both sides ; stem sim- 

 ple. L. 



Every body knows this tall, woolly, and very common plant. 

 Stem erect, straight, woolly, winged by the decurrent base of 

 the leaves. Leaves exceedingly woolly on both sides, ovate- 

 lanceolate, sessile, slightly serrato or waved on the margin. 

 The stem terminates in a long, thick, cylindrical spiko, with 

 handsome five parted yellow flowers. Dry pastures. Julv. Au- 

 gust. Biennial. 

 11 



