232 



nese nearly as Labiatse from Verbenacese ; but there is a similar tendency 

 to an excessive multiplication of cells in Nicotiana multivalvis, a genuine 

 plant of the order, in which an additional verticillus of pericarpial leaves 

 is added to the outside of the two central ones, forming together a sin- 

 gular instance of a many-celled fruit. Through Nola'na, Solanese ap- 

 proach Convolvulaceae. The position of the placentae and pericarpial leaves 

 is the same in this order as in Scrophularinese and their allies, from which 

 its alternate leaves usually distinguish them. Verbascum and Celsia are 

 very near Scrophularinese, to which they are actually referred by Reichen- 

 bach ; but they differ in their alternate leaves and pentandrous flowers. 



Geography. Natives of most parts of the world without the arctic 

 and antarctic circles, especially within the tropics, in which the mass of 

 the order exists, in the form of the genera Solanum and Physalis. Verbas- 

 cum is wholly extratropical. 



Properties. At first sight this family would seem to offer a strong 

 exception to the general uniformity of structure and property, containing as 

 it does the deadly Nightshade and Henbane, and the wholesome Potato 

 and Tomato ; but a little inquiry will explain this apparent anomaly. The 

 tubers of the Potato are well known to be perfectly wholesome when cooked, 

 any narcotic property which they possess being wholly dissipated by heat. 

 This is the case with other succulent underground stems in equally dan- 

 gerous families, as the Cassava among Euphorbiacese ; besides which, as 

 Decandolle justly observes, — " II ne faut pas perdre de vue que tons 

 nos alimens renferment une petite dose d'un principe excitant, qui, s'il y 

 etait en plus grande quantite, pourrait etre nuisible, mais qui y est necessaire 

 pour leur sei-vir de condiment naturel." The leaves of all are narcotic and 

 exciting, but in different degrees, from the Atropa Belladonna, which causes 

 vertigo, convulsions, and vomiting ; the well-known Tobacco, which will 

 frequently produce the first and last of these symptoms ; the Henbane and 

 Stramonium, down to some of the Solanum tribe, the leaves of which are 

 used as kitchen herbs. The juice of Datura Stramonium is used in the United 

 States, in doses of from 20 to 30 grains, in cases of epilepsy, or of mania 

 without. fever. Dec. The Quina of Brazil is the produce of Solanum pseudo- 

 quina, and is so powerful a bitter and febrifuge, that the Brazilians scarcely 

 believe that it is not the genuine Jesuits' Bark. It has been analysed by 

 Vauquelin, who found that it contained -L of a bitter resinoid matter, slightly 

 soluble in water, about -^- of a vegetable bitter, and a number of other prin- 

 ciples in minute quantities. Plantcs Usuelles, 21. The juice of Atropa 

 Belladonna is well known to produce a singular dilatation of the pupil of 

 the eye. Duval found that the same property exists in Solanums of the 

 Dulcamara tribe, .but in a more feeble degree. It is in the fruit that the 

 greatest diversity of character exists ; Atropa Belladonna, Solanum nigrum, 

 and others, are highly dangerous poisons; Stramonium, Henbane, some 

 Cestrums, and Physalis, are narcotic; the fruit of Physalis Alkekengi is 

 diuretic, for which quality it is employed by veterinary surgeons; that of 

 Capsicum is pungent, or even acrid; some Physalis are subacid, and so 

 wholesome as to be eaten with impunity ; and, finally, the Egg plant, Sola- 

 num esculentum, and all the Tomato tribe of Solanum, yield fruits which 

 are common articles of cookery. But it is stated that the poisonous species 

 derive their properties from the presence of a pulpy matter which surrounds 

 the seeds ; and that the wholesome kinds are destitute of this pulp, their 

 fruit consisting only of what botanists call the sarcocarp ; that is to say, 

 the centre of the rind, in a more or less succulent state. It must also be 

 remembered, that if the fruit of the Egg-plant is eatable, it only becomes 

 so after undergoing a particular process, by which all its bitter acrid matter 



