20 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
leaves, than which they are much shorter. Calyx funnel-shaped, villous, five-lobed, regular, wider than the coro 
to whose tube it is equal in length; each lobe ovate, acute, with an open estivation. Corolla dull dirty yellow, 
strongly netted with purple veins, and deep purple at the orifice; funnel-shaped, with a somewhat erect limb, which 
is five-lobed; lobes rounded, the two anterior a little smaller than the others, and separated at the base by a deep slit 
in the tube. Stamens five, declinate, straight, shorter than the corolla, the three lower longer than the others. - Filg- 
ments pubescent, inserted about the middle of the tube of the corolla. Ovary nearly round, shining, pale green, two- 
celled, with numerous ovules adhering to the dissepiment. Style filiform, declinate, purple at the apex. Stigma 
capitate. Fruit an ovate, many-seeded pyxis. 
Henbane is a common plant in Europe; in the United States it has been introduced and cultivated. It flowers 
in July. 3 
ed the showing of Pereira it would appear that there has been a difference of opinion among botanists, with 
respect to the duration of this plant. By some it has been supposed to be annual, by others biennial. The truth 
appears to be that it is both. The annual plant is comparatively inert. Mr. Houlton first pointed out the cause of 
inertness, and stated that the plant in the second year only was reliable for medicinal purposes. The leaves and seeds 
are the officinal portions. The former, when fresh, have a strong, unpleasant narcotic odour, a mucilaginous, slightly 
acrid taste, and a clammy feel; they are pale dull green, but become brown by drying. The seeds are small, com- 
pressed, roundish, of a yellowish-gray colour, and have the odour of the plant, and an oily, bitter taste. 
Both the portions above named contain a peculiar alkaloid principle, Hyoscyamza, in which the medical properties 
appear to reside. It was obtained by Brandes and confirmed by Geiger and Hesse, and Mein. By distillation an 
empyreumatic oil was obtained by Dr. Morries, probably similar to the oil from tobacco. 'There is a variety of this 
plant which, from having white flowers, has been called Hyoscyamus albus. 'The H. agrestis and H. pallidus are not 
different. 
Henbane is a sedative narcotic, and alterative. In small doses it calms the system and allays pain, predisposing 
to or producing sleep. It in large doses will affect the head, causing giddiness, vertigo, dimness of vision, &c., but in 
moderate doses is not so apt to affect the sensorium as opium, from which it differs also in its effect on the eye and 
the bowels. In overdoses it is poisonous. It is used in substance, and in the form of extract or tincture. 
Pirate LX VI.—Represents the plant in flower, the flower and the capsule. . 
DATURA STRAMONIUM. 
LINN AUS. 
THORNAPPLE. 
Sex. Syst.—Pentandria, Monogynia. 
_ _ Gen. Coar.—Calyz oblong, tubular, five-angled, five-toothed, dropping off from its base by a circular horizontal 
incision, which remains permanently at the base of the ovary. Corolla funnel-shaped, regular, angular, plaited, with 
mucronate lobes. Stigma thick, obtuse, two-lobed. Ovary four-celled. Fruit dry, often prickly, half four-celled, 
with four valves and many seeds. ( Lindley.) : 
Srecir. Cuar.—A bushy, smooth, fetid annual, two or three feet high. Stem much branched, forked, spreading, 
leafy. Leaves from the forks of the stem large, ovate, smooth, unequal at the base, variously and acutely sinuated and 
toothed, veiny, of a dull green. lowers axillary, erect, white or lilac, exhaling some odour when the dew is on the a 
about three inches long. Fruit as large as a walnut, prickly, and containing, in four cells, black seeds. : ar 
This plant is found in waste places all over Europe. It may also be said to be common all through this country, 
where two varieties are to be met with, one with white flowers and green stems, the other with lilac flowers and ede 
ple stems and veins. It flowers during the summer and fall, until frost. It is here called Jimpson weed, a corruption 
of Jamestown meed, in the neighbourhood of which place it appears to have first been noticed. Some doubt has been 
expressed with respect to the native country of this plant, but the probability is, that it is originally a European 
plant introduced; first, because mention is made of it by Fuchsius in 1542, and secondly, because its 4p seg 
occurred in the first colony on this continent. 
