SOLANE^. 167 



of the fruit in some way, by which its properties should not be 

 essentially altered, is a great desideratum for dyspeptics. The 

 more successful method for securing the end will probably be the 

 forced cultivation of the plant in hot-houses. A native of South 

 America, and often called Love Apple. 



8. melongena. L. Egg Plant, A native of Africa, Asia, 

 and America, and its specific name is from the Arabian word by 

 which it is known. Cultivated in Europe and our country for its 

 fruit, which is used as food and a condiment. Some varieties 

 are cultivated for ornament, as they bear a beautiful white fruit of 

 the size and color of a hen's egg, on a small, deUcate plant. 



S. pseudo-capsicum. L. Jerusalem Cherry. Winter Cherry. 

 A small ornamental shrub, beautiful in form and color, and bear- 

 ing a few large cherry-looking berries. 



Capsicum. L. 



C. annuum. L. Red Pepper. The known pepper of the 

 gardens, so grateful as a condiment. The finely pulverized red 

 covering of the fruit, which is the powder of C. baccatum, L., 

 forms a substitute for Cayenne Pepper. As a pickle, the green 

 fruit is considerably used and valued. Our garden plant is from 

 India. The genus is named from the Greek, to bite, from the 

 biting effect of the seed and fruit in the mouth. 



Physalis. L. 5. 1. Ground Cherry. Winter Cherry. 



From the Greek, for bladder, from the inflated calyx inclosing 

 the fruit ; chiefly an American and Southern genus ; some spe- 

 cies are shrubby. 



P. ohscura. Mx. Common Ground Cherry. Stem pros- 

 trate, spreading, pubescent ; leaves broad-cordate, nearly solitary, 

 coarsely toothed ; flower single, nodding, pale-yellow, with purple 

 spots at the base ; hills ; August. 



P. Pennsylvanica. L. Also herbaceous, branched, with 

 ovate leaves ; a foot high ; flowers yellow, and berries red ; road- 



