NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 21 3 



regular, shorter than the 4 stamens. — Common in meadows; 

 the herbage pleasingly odorous. 



M. spicata L., the well-known Spearmint, has escaped from 

 gardens at Crockers and other resorts. Its flower-clusters 

 are in terminal spikes and the small flowers are nearly 

 regular. 



SOLANACEAE. Nightshade Family. 

 Herbs (rarely shrubs) with alternate leaves and regular 

 flowers. Corolla 5-lobed. Stamens 5, on the corolla. Fruit a 

 2-celled many-seeded capsule or berry. 



Corolla wheel-shaped; fruit a berry 1. Solanum. 



Corolla tubular; fruit a capsule 2. Nicotiana. 



1. SOLANUM. Nightshade. 



1. S. xanti Gray. Stems several, 1 to 3 ft. high, spreading, 

 from a perennial root, sticky-pubescent. Leaves ovate or 

 oblong, ]/ 2 to \y 2 in. long, entire. Flowers in loose clusters. 

 Corolla blue, saucer-shaped, J^> to Y\ in. across. Berry light 

 green, the size of a cherry. 



This nightshade occurs sparingly up to 6500 ft. or more. It 

 is easily recognized by the yellow anthers standing together 

 in the center of the blue, angularly lobed corolla, which has a 

 circle of green spots at base. The Black Nightshade (S. nig- 

 rum L.), with small, white flowers and black berries may 

 occur in our district. The herbage and unripe berries of both 

 species are poisonous. 



2. NICOTIANA. Tobacco. 



1. N. attenuata Torr. Stems erect, 1 to 3 ft. high, from 

 an annual root, sticky-pubescent. Leaves lanceolate or nearly 

 linear, the lower ovate, tapering to a slender apex, narrowed 

 to the petiole, entire, 2 to 4 in. long. Flowers in loose clus- 

 ters. Corolla dull white, tubular, with narrow spreading limb, 

 1 to V/z in. long. Stamens included. — To be expected in warm, 

 sandy soil. 



SCROPHULARIACEAE. Figwort Family. 

 Herbs or low shrubs. Corolla irregular, sometimes ob- 

 scurely so, 2 lobes constituting the upper lip, which is some- 

 times beak-like, 3 lobes the lower lip (corolla with only 4 

 lobes in Veronica). Stamens 4 or 5 (2 in Veronica), the fifth, 

 when present, devoid of anther or much reduced. Ovary 2- 

 celled; style 1, undivided. 



