CHAP. IX,] 



SOLANACE^. 



143 



Fig. 68. — BrrxER-swEET {Solarium 

 l}ulcainara\. 



but they are generally cut into five distinct 

 segments: which are sometimes turned back, as 

 in the flower of the Bitter-sweet (S. Dulcamara)^ 

 as shown in^^. 68 a ; and sometimes nearly flat, 

 as in the flower of 

 the common garden 

 Nightshade {S. ni- 

 grum). The berries 

 of the Bitter-sweet 

 (h) are red, and they 

 have a very pretty 

 effect in hedges and 

 wild coppices, where they are produced in great 

 abundance during the latter part of summer 

 and autumn ; and those of the Garden Night- 

 shade are black. Both these plants are poisonous ; 

 but this is by no means the case with all the 

 species of the genus, as the tubers of the potato 

 {S. tuberosum) are, as is well known, whole- 

 some food, and the fruit or apple is not decidedly 

 poisonous ; while the Aubergine, or Egg-plant 

 (<S. Melongeiia)^ which is another species, has a 

 fruit which is large, smooth and shining, and 

 which when boiled or stewed is good to eat. 

 The segments of the corolla of this species are 

 often so deeply notched as to appear to be six 

 or nine, instead of five. 



There are many ornamental species of Sola- 

 num, many of whicli have woolly, and some 



