446 XCIX. SOLANACE^. Nigandra. 



to Europe, 1586. It is extensively cultivated in the Middle and Western 

 States, and is exported in vast quantities. Stem 4 — 6f high, paniculate above. 

 Leaves 1 — 2f by ^ — If entire. Flowers rose-color, not inelegant. July. 



Obs.—Sir Walter Raleigh has the fiotior of first introducing the practice of smoking 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. The use of this nauseous weed has become almost universal, and furnishes 

 a striking illustration of the force of habit. Its lirst use, whether smoked or chewed, produces a deadly- 

 sickness; and it is only by repeated ami painful trials that it can be tolerated. At length, however, it 

 becomes so necessary to the comfort of its victim, that, at all times and places, its precious smoke or 

 extract must be flowing continually from liis mouth. Taken into the stomach, it is a powerful narcotic 

 poison. July. 



3. DATURA. 



An alteration of the Arabic name Tatorah. 



Calyx large, tubular, ventricose. 5-angled, deciduous, with a persis- 

 tent, orbicular, peltate base ; corolla infundibuliform, tube cylindric, 

 long, limb 5-angled and plaited ; stamens 5 ; stigma obtuse, bilamel- 

 late ; capsule 2-celled, 4-valved ; cells 2 — 3-parted. — ® herbs^ with 

 bluish-white or purple, solitary, axillary Jiowers. 



1. D. Stramonium. Thorn Apple. 



St. dichotomous ; tvs. ovate, smooth, angular-dentate ; caps, spiny, erect. — 

 A well-known poisonous plant, growing among rubbish in waste places. Stem 

 about 3f high, smooth, hollow. Leaves large, situated at the base of the dichoto- 

 mous branches, their sides unequal, with large, irregular teeth and sinuses. 

 Flowers solitary, axillary; corolla funnel-shaped, with a long tube and a plaited, 

 5-toothed border, the color white with a slight tinge of purple. Fruit egg-shaped, 

 the size of a small apple, covered with spines. Aug. — Every part is poisonous, 

 but, when used with certain restrictions, is a useful medicine for asthma, &c. ^ 

 /?. Tatula. St. and Jts. purple. — This variety has advanced along the national 

 road to la., Plummer! and 111., Mead. 



2. D. Metel. 



Lvs. cordate, nearly entire, pubescent ; fr. prickly, globose, nodding. — 

 Banks of the Ohio, Locke. Doubtless introduced, having escaped from gardens. 

 Plant 2f high. Flowers white. ^ f 



4. HYOSCYAmUS. Tourn. 



Gr. vi, vos, a pig, and Kvajios, bean; the fruit is said to be not poisonous to swine. 



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

 the 5, obtuse lobes larger ; stamens 5, declinate ; stigma capitate ; 

 capsule ovoid, 2-celled, opening with a lid near the summit. — Coarse, 

 weed-like herbs, native in eastern countries. 

 H. NIGER. Common Henbane. 



St. branching, erect, very leafy ; lvs. sinuate, clasping ; fls. sessile. — (g) A 

 tall, well known, foetid weed, growing about the rubbish of old houses, road- 

 sides, &c. The whole plant is hairy, viscid, and of a sea-green hue, emitting 

 a Ibctid odor. Stem 2f high, round. Leaves large, oblong, cut into acute, sinu- 

 ate lobes. Flowers in terminal, one-sided spikes ; the corolla straw-color, finely 

 reticulated with dark purple veins. The whole plant is reputed poisonous, but 

 has long been regarded as an excellent medicine in nervous diseases, coughs, 

 convulsions, &c. Jl. ^ 



5. NICANDRA. Adans. 



In honor of Nicander, a Greek physician, who lived about 50 years B. C. 



Calyx 5-cleft, 5-angled, the angles compressed, sepals sagittate ; 

 corolla campanulate ; stamens 5, incurved ; berry 3 — 5-celled, en- 

 veloped in the persistent calyx. — ® Peruvian herbs. 



N. PHYSALoiDEs. Adaus. (Atropa physaloides. Linn.) Apple of Peru. — St. 

 herbaceous ; lvs. glabrous, sinuate, angular ; fis. solitarj^ axillary, on short pe- 

 duncles ; cat. closed with the angles very acute. — Native of Peru, cultivated in 

 gardens, from whence it has in a few instances strayed into the neighboring 



