APPEXDIX, 41 



the intervals; they are about 3 inches loug^ but when the fruit 

 becomes ripenedj they attain a length of 6 or 10 inches, and are 

 much more deflexed than the axillary leaf from which they 

 spring : most of the bracts fall away, but others, especially the 

 lower ones, grow ultimately into leaves : the pedicels are 2 lines 

 long in flower, and 3 lines in fruit ; the calyx is | line long ; the 

 corolla 3 lines in length, and is said to be of a bluish lilac 

 colour: it flowers in October : the berry is Inline In diameter*. 



Concluding Remarks on the SoLANACEiE. 



It is now (October 1852) more than two years since I suspended 

 my observations on the Solanace^y in expectation of the long 

 promised monograph of M. Dunal, which has at length made its 

 appearance in the 13th volume of the ^ Prodromus ^ of M, De- 

 Candolle. Several of the genera belonging to this family, as 

 well as most of the species that I have enumerated at different 

 intervals, are there recorded; but as their respective affinities, 

 their distribution founded on peculiar features, and the difi*e- 

 rential characters of the divisions thus proposed, are not noticed 

 in the slightest degree, I feel myself called upon to make some 

 remarks on the subject. Considering how little was known of 

 the real limits of the genera of the Solanace^e a few years ago, 

 aware of the confusion in which these were associated upon the 

 most irreconcileable data, as witnessed in the latest distribution 

 of the family in Endlicher's 'Genera Plantarum^ and Don's 

 'Dictionary,^ knomng that the species were ill-defined and ill- 

 classified, and that a large proportion of undetermined plants 

 were amassed in every herbarium, for want of the means of their 

 discrimination, it was natural that a general satisfaction should 

 be felt on the announcement, that M. Dunal was occupied in ela- 

 borating a monograph of the family for the ' Prodromus/ This 

 ought, in regular order, to have preceded the Scrophulariacece, 

 and to have appeared seven years ago : the intervening delay has 

 therefore served only to increase a general anticipation of greater 

 perfection in a work, proceeding from the hand of one who had 

 written on the genera of the family and their affinities thirty-five 

 years since, and who had made this order an object of his study 

 during a great portion of his life. It cannot be concealed that 

 its appearance has not answered the universal expectation, and 

 that a feeling of disappointment has been generally felt among 

 botanists on its perusal. All will unite in their acknowledge- 

 ment to M. Dunal for the production of this laborious work, 

 and will willingly excuse a large share of its imperfections, when 



* Analytical details of 

 at the end of this volume. 



G 



