SOLANACE.^:. 



DATURA. 



Calyx oblong, tubular, 5-angled, 5-toothed, dropping off from 

 its base by a circular horizontal incision, which remains perma- 

 nently at the base of the ovary. Corolla funnel-shaped, regular, 

 angular, plaited, with mucronate lobes. Stigma thick, obtuse, 

 2-lobed. Ovary 4-celled. Fruit dry, often prickly, half 4-celled, 

 with 4 valves, and many seeds. 



1068. D. Tatula Linn. sp. pi. 256. Bigelow med. hot. i. t. 1. — 

 Common by roadsides in North America ; probably introduced 

 from Portugal and the South of France, where it is wild. 



Stem erect, branched, smooth or slightly pubescent, hollow in large 

 plants, often solid in small ones. Leaves 5 or 6 inches long, ovate- 

 oblong, acute, irregularly sinuated, with large acute teeth and round 

 sinuses, the sides of the base extending unequally down the petiole. 

 Flowers single, axillary, on short stalks, erect or nodding. Calyx 

 tubular, with 5 angles and 5 teeth, deciduous by breaking off' from its 

 base. Corolla funnel-shaped, with a long tube, 5-angled, its limb waved 

 and folded, and terminating in 5 acuminate teeth. Ovary superior, 

 hairy, with the rudiments of spines, ovate ; style as long as the stamens ; 

 stigma obtuse. Capsule ovate, fleshy, covered with thorns, 4-valved, 

 4-celled, opening at top. Seeds numerous, reniform, black, attached 

 to a longitudinal receptacle, which occupies the centre of each cell. — 

 Very nearly the same as D. Stramonium, but a larger plant, with deep 

 purple stems and a corolla stained at the angles with dull deep purple. 

 Properties the same as those of D. Stramonium. 



1069. D. Stramonium Linn. sp. 255. Eng. Bot. t. 1288. 

 Woodv. t. 124. Smith Eng. Fl. i. 314. — Waste places all over 

 Europe. (Thornapple.) 



Abushy, smooth, foetid annual, 2 or 3 feet high. Stem much branched, 

 forked, spreading, leafy. Leaves from the forks of the stem, large, 

 ovate, smooth, unequal at the base, variously and acutely sinuated and 

 toothed, veiny, of a light dull green. Flowers axillary, erect, white, 

 sweet-scented, especially at night, about 3 inches long. Fruit as large 

 as a walnut, very prickly. Seeds black. — A violent narcotic poison 

 when taken internally, acting fatally if taken in large doses. In skilful 

 hands it is a valuable medicine in mania, epilepsy, convulsions, tic 

 doloureux, &c. It palliates the distressing paroxysms of pure spas- 

 modic asthma when smoked ; for which purpose Bigelow recommends 

 the leaves in preference to the root, in which it is obvious that he must 

 be right as the plant is an annual. It is also employed successfully 

 as an external application as an anodyne and sedative, in burns, 

 haemorrhoids, irritable ulcers, &c. 



1070. D. ferox Linn, has similar properties. 



PHYSALIS. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla campanulate-rotate, plaited, 5-lobed. 

 Anthers converging, opening longitudinally. Stigma capitate, 



510 



