72 CLASS PENTANDRIA. 



terminal perforations, instead of longitudinally, as is 

 the usual manner of the dehiscence of anthers ; the 

 berry, which succeeds, is divided into from 2 to 

 5 cells. The genus is extremely numerous, and 

 most of the species belong to South America. The 

 Potaloe [Solarium tuberosum) was introduced into 

 Europe from the mountains of Peru, and has become 

 infinitely more valuable, as an article of food, in the 

 colder regions of Europe and North America, than it 

 could ever have been in its native climate. It is with 

 us an annual, perishing after the ripening of its nume- 

 rous tubers or roots, which are, in reality, only so many 

 short and succulent running branches, readily capable 

 of growth when divided into eyes, or single buds. 



The Ground-cherry (Physalis) scarcely differs 

 from Solarium, except in the calyx, which at length 

 becomes inflated like a bladder, and incloses the 2- 

 celled berry, when ripe becoming yellow, pleasantly 

 acid, palatable, and wholesome in all the American 

 species, though the European kind called Mkelcengi, 

 is considered a poison. 



We have commonly in gardens, and almost a weed, 

 another genus, called JVicandra, having blue flowers 

 somewhat bell-shaped, merely differing from Physalis, 

 in having a dry berry, but likewise inclosed by the in- 

 flated calyx. 



The Datura, or Thorn- Apple, called also James'- 

 town-weed, is another genus of the family Solaneje. 

 It bears a tubular, angular, and deciduous calyx, of 

 which the orbicular and enlarging base is alone per- 

 sistent. The corolla is plaited, and when expanded, 

 funnel-form. The thorny capsule is ovate, 2-celled, 

 4-valved, with the cells 2-parted. This is a com- 

 mon foetid and poisonous annual, too abundant in every 

 waste and neglected garden, expanding its flowers 

 only in the evening. There are several other species 



