HYOSCYAMUS Orientalis. 

 Oriental Hyoscyamiis. 



Class and Order. — Pextandria Monogynia. 



Syn. Hyoscyamus Orientalis. Bchurstein Fl. Taiir. Caitc. vol. I. p. 164. 

 — Hyoscyamus Orientalis. Ciii-t. Bot. Mag. pi. 2414. 



Root tuberous— stem erect, growing to the height of one foot or more—leaves 

 on rather long petioles, broadly lanceolate, spreading, margins undulate, 

 of a dull green, strongly veined with red— under side reddish in the 

 young leaves — flowers thyrsiform — on short pedicels— calyx campanu- 

 late, margin five cleft, segments acute, tinged with purple— corolla 

 lilac, funnel shaped, limb spreading, five cleft— stamens five, inclined, 

 shorter than the style— stigma clavate — whole plant covered with 

 a whitish pubescence which it nearly loses in more advanced growth. 



The genus Hyoscyamus is, perhaps, more remarkable for its 

 medicinal properties than for its beauty, though this species is cer- 

 tainly a handsome plant and as yet rarely met with :— it is of later 

 introduction than Hyoscyamus Physaloides, which has a darker 

 flower, the leaves perfectly smooth, and the plant altogether is of 

 smaller ffrowth. H. Orientalis is a native of Iberia, a country 

 between the Black and Caspian Seas, and was first introduced into 

 this country from seeds sent to Mr. John Hunneman, about the 

 year 1821 ; it is perfectly hardy, likes a rich soil, and may be increased 

 by parting the roots or by seed ; flowers as early as March. There is 

 only another species besides the two mentioned, deserving of cultiva- 

 tion in a flower garden, which is H. Scopoli. 

 PI. 10. 



