418 FLQUA HISTORICA. 



WINTER CHERRY. Fhysalu AlMengi. 



Natural Order Lurida. Solanece, Juss : a Genus of 

 the Pentandria Monogynia Class. 



The common Winter Cherry, which we occasion- 

 ally meet with in some obscure part of our gar- 

 dens, was formerly held in great repute for its 

 medicinal properties, but in modern practice it 

 is totally disregarded, and is only allowed the 

 honour of associating with cultivated plants from 

 its producing an ornamental berry similar to the 

 cherry in its appearance, and from whence the 

 familiar name is derived. It is the ^ua-oChig, 

 Fhysalis, of Dioscorides, from ^ua-a, a bladder, 

 on account of the calyx being curiously inflated. 



This exotic plant has been of long standing in 

 our gardens ; the Kew Catalogue states as early 

 as 1548, and Dr. Turner mentions it as being 

 common in 1564. This author writes on it under 

 the Arabian name of Alkakinge, from whence 

 the specific title of Alkekengi ; he also calls it 

 Halicacabujii vidgare, and Fhissalis. Pliny calls 

 it Halicacahum and Vesicatorium, in allusion to 



