583 



NOTES ON THE "COMMON NIGHTSHADE" {SOLAXUM 

 yiGRUM LINN.) AND SOME CLOSELY RELATED 

 FORMS AND SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN CON- 

 FUSED AVITH IT. 



Bv Edwin Cheel, Botanical Assistant, National Herbarium, 



Sydney. 



(Plates xxx.-xxxiii.) 



As far back as 1797, a common weed in Europe, popularly 

 known under the name "Common Nightshade," was classified 

 by Carl von Linne (47) under the botanical name of Solaiiuiu 

 nujriim. Since that time, a number of forms or species, 

 which have some superficial resemblance to the European species, 

 have been mistaken for this plant by some authors, while others 

 have recognised the differences, and have given them distinctive 

 specific names. 



• A few of the most noteworthy species that have been confused 

 with >V. nigntm are as follow : — 



Solannm <jidneense Lam. (Guinea Nightshade). 



,, hii'sutmn Dunal (Hairy Nightshade). 



,, incertum Dun. (Uncertain Nightshade). 



,, humile Bernh. (Humble Nightshade). 



,, Forsteri Seem. (Forster's Pacific Island Nightshade). 



,, astroites Forst. 



,, {oleraceum Dun.) (Herb-like Nightshade). 



,, upacuni A.Br. (Dull Nightshade). 



,, ttodijim'um Jacq. (Nodding Nightshade). 



,, pterocaulon Dun.. (Winged Nightshade). 



,, ininiatum Bernh. 



„ rubritm Mull. (Red-berried Nightshade). 



,, villosum Lam. (Yellow-berried, villous Nightshade). 



In addition to the above, quite a number of distinctive 

 botanical names have been recorded, which appear to apply to 

 the same plants, so that the synonyms are very numerous, as 



