SOLANACEiE. 



1083. N. persica Lindl. Bot. Beg. t. 1592 Persia. 



A viscid, downy, branching annual. Radical leaves oblong-spathulate, 

 cauiine sessile, half amplexicaul, acuminate. Calyxes acutely 5-cleft; 

 flowers white, sweet-scented ; tube of the corolla hypocrateriform, 

 slender, clavate ; throat ventricose ; segments of the limb ovate, emar- 

 ginate, somewhat unequal. — Produces the delicate and fragrant 

 Tobacco of Shiraz. 



CRESCENTIA. 



Calyx 2-leaved, equal, deciduous. Corolla campanulate, with 

 a fleshy tube much shorter than the ventricose, 5-cleft, unequal, 

 crisped limb. Stamens 4, didynamous, with the rudiment of a 

 fifth. Fruit gourd-like, 1 -celled, with a solid shell, internally 

 pulpy, many-seeded. 



1084. C. Cujete Linn, sp.pl. 872. Jacq. amer. 175. t. 111. 

 Bot. Mag. t. 3430. — West India islands, and Spanish Main. 

 (Calabash tree.) 



A tree, according to Jacquin, 20 feet in height, readily distinguished 

 from all others by its peculiar habit : for it sends out large, horizontal, 

 scarcely divided branches, which bear fascicles of leaves at various dis- 

 tances. These leaves are from 4 to 6 inches in length, broadly lanceo- 

 late, somewhat acute, entire, tapering at the base, but destitute of 

 petiole. Peduncles, in general from the older portions of the trunk, 

 or branches, solitary, rarely 2 or 3 together, decurved, bearing a single, 

 pendent flower of a large size, and, though varying somewhat in colour, 

 generally of a yellowish-green, more or less streaked, or veined with 

 reddish lines. The calyx is large, of 2 roundish, or oval, green, concave 

 lobes. Corolla large, somewhat campanulate, with a remarkable con- 

 striction below the middle, above which it becomes ventricose, and at 

 the mouth cut into 5, much crisped and waved, sharp, but rather un- 

 equal segments, which are at length reflexed : it does not readily fall 

 away, but decays upon the peduncle, and then gives out a very disagree- 

 able smell. Stamens 4, didynamous, sometimes 5, shorter than the 

 corolla. Anthers of 2 oblong lobes, spreading at their base. Ovary 

 ovate, surrounded by a large, fleshy, yellowish ring. Style rather longer 

 than the corolla : stigma 2-lobed. Fruit, according to authors, an oval 

 or round berry, large, externally coriaceous, 1-celled, containing a co 

 pious pulp, in which are imbedded several cordate, compressed seeds, 

 which are said to have 2 cells. Hooker. — From the pulp of the fruit, 

 a syrup is prepared in the West Indies having a great reputation as a 

 pectoral medicine, and as a remedy for internal bruises. Dr. Wright 

 recommends the pulp as an excellent poultice for bruises and inflam- 

 mations. 



514 



