: 5 4 
Se 
x 
1 A AREAL 
ema # 
48 DATURA STRAMONIUM, 
the want of authentic descriptions of sufiicient 
antiquity. One of the oldest satisfactory accounts 
of it is that of Gerarde in 1597, who has published 
a description and figure of this plant, and states 
that it was introduced inte England by himself, 
from seeds received fromConstantinople. [Note A. ] 
Its common name in Europe, derived from 
the form of its fruit, is Thorn apple. In this 
country its provincial names are Apple of Peru, De- 
vil’s apple, and Jamestown weed. Itis a plant of 
rank growth and luxuriant foliage, varying in height 
from one to six feet, according to the soil in which 
it grows. In Carolina it begins to flower in May, 
and in Massachusetts about the latter part of Ju- 
ly, and continues until the arrival of frosts. 
The Datura Stramonium belongs to the first 
order of the fifth class in the Linnzan artificial 
arrangement. In its natural order it is found 
among the Lurid of Linnzus and the Solanex 
of Jussieu. The following are the essential 
marks which characterize the genus Datura. The 
corolla funnel form and plaited. The calya tu- 
bular, angular and deciduous. The capsule four 
valved.—Under this genus are comprehended a 
number of species, a great p 
tives of warm latitudes. The species Stramoni- 
um is distinguished from the rest by the follow- 
