584 NOTES ON THE COMMON NIGHTSHADE, 



will be seen by referring to the list I have drawn up in the fol- 

 lowing pages. Although Lamarck (46), Miller (61), Persoon(66), 

 Alton (1), Link (46a), Don (20), and other botanists in the early 

 days, regarded the plants as belonging to distinct species, and 

 liave recorded them under the names mentioned on the preceding 

 page, we find that C. B. Clai'k(17), Bentham(ll), Hooker (41-42), 

 and other authorities, who have studied these plants in the Kew 

 Herbarium, have united them under one species, namely, «S'. 

 nif/runi, so that we find upwards of fifty specific names recorded 

 in botanical works which, according to the latter authorities, 

 belong to one and the same species. 



In Australian botanical works, the various authors have 

 adopted the nomenclature of Bentham, so that the plants com- 

 monly known to Australians as " Native Black Currants," are 

 known in botanical works under the name >S'. iiiyrum Linn., 

 which, in Europe, is referable to the "Common Nightshade." 



In view of the numerous reports, received from various parts 

 of the Commonwealth, of animals, and even children, being sus- 

 pected to ha\ e been poisoned through eating the berries of thqse 

 plants, while others state that the berries make an excellent con- 

 serve or jam, it seems desirable that the various plants should 

 be more carefully examined and investigations made in the light 

 of more modern knowledge. Tests should be made of the dis- 

 tinctive forms, so as to prove whether the plants are deleterious 

 or not. We know tliat there are at least three distinctive forms 

 found in Australia, which are easily recognised by the difterent 

 habit, colour of foliage, and other distinctive characters; and 

 that there are still others which have been introduced from othei- 

 countries, which are easily recogniseci as distinct from those grow- 

 ing wild in Australia, in that their berries are distinctly of a 

 reddish or yellow ish colour, while those of our forms are of vary- 

 ing shades of black or purple. Even as far back as 1868, it was 

 pointed out by Woolls(78) that we have in Australia two distinct 

 forms of what is commonly known here as " Native Black 

 Currants." His remarks are recorded as follows: — "Solanum 

 seems to have two varieties here. The one is indigenous; the 



