SOLANACE^. 



801 HYOSCYAMOS- 



coarse, narcotic herbs, with simple leaves and terminal flowers. Corollas 

 white, tinged with green or purple. 



1. N. RU'STICA. 



Viscid-pubescent; Zeaues petioled, ovale, entire ; tube of the corolla cyhn-^ 

 dric, lontrer than the calyx, segments round, obtuse. For the purposes ot 

 tobacco this plant is considered inferior to the Virginian. Stem 1:2— lb inches 

 hio-h. Flowers greenish yellow, in a terminal panicle or raceme. In western 

 N^'y., said to have been introduced by the Indians. Aug. Ann. 



Common Tobacco. 



2. N. Taba'CUM. — Viseid-pubescent; leaves lanceolate, sessile, de- 

 current, throat of the corolla inflated; lobes acute. Stem 4— (J feet high. 

 Leaves 1—2 feet long. Flowers rose-color, not inelegant. This and the 

 foregoing species are the only plants cultivated as tobacco. They appear to 

 have bee'n natives of Central America Tobacco was first carried to England 

 in 158G, from the Island of Tobago, or the Province of Tabasco in Mexico 

 (whence its name). Sir Waller Raleigh has the distinguished honor of first 

 introducing the practice of smoking from Virginia into England, more than 

 200 years ago, and in his house at Islington is still to be seen a shield bearing 

 his arms, with a tobacco plant at the top ! Loudon. It is now extensively 

 cultivated in Virginia, Maryland and Ohio, whence it is exported in vast 

 quantities. The use of this nauseous weed has become almost universal, and 

 furnishes a striking illustration of the force of habit. Its first use, whether 

 smoked or chewed" produces a deadly sickness ; and ills only by repealed and 

 painful trials that it can be tolerated. At length, however, it becomes so 

 necessary to the comfort of its viclim, that, at all times and places, its precious 

 smoke or extract must be flowing continually from his mouth. Taken into 

 the stomach, it is a powerful narcotic poison. Jl. Ann. Virginian Tobacco. 



9. PETU'NIA. 

 Calyx tube short, the linib o-cleft, foliaccous ; corolla 

 hypocraterii'orm, the tube cyiindric, limb in 5, unequal, flat, 

 plicate lobes; stamens 5, unequal, included, arising from the 

 middle of the corolla tube; capsule 2-valved. 



The Brazilian name is petun. Latinized, petunia. Herbs wilh simple leaves 

 and axillary, solitary, showy flowers. 



P. VI OL a'CE A. — .Stem weak, viscid-pilose ; leaves acute, on short petioles ; 

 corolla ventricose, cleft into rounded, acute lobes. A pretty, trailing or 

 climbing plant, becoming quite popular in cultivation, native of Brazil. "Whole 

 plant clothed with clammy hairs. Stems simple, several from the same root, 

 2 — 3 feel long. Leaves 1—2 ruches long, nearly as broad, taperrng at base 

 into a winged'peliole, fleshy, nearly smooth beneath. Sepalsobtuse. Pedun- 

 cles as long as the It-aves, a'ld scarcely longer than the corolla tube. Limb 

 of the corolla bright purple, an inch or more broad, upper segment smallest. 

 Capsule furnished with a tooth each side of the sutures. 



fi. a'ba; corollas white. Between this and the above are many intermedi- 

 ate shades. 



10. HYOSCY'AMUS. 



Calyx tubular, 5-cleft; corolla infundibuliform, irregular; 

 one of the 5, obtuse lobes larger; stamens 5, declinale ; stig- 

 ma capitate; capsule ovoid, 2-celled, opening wilh a lid near 

 the summit. 



AA 



