i. ii aed 
‘PHYSALIS aLKEKENG?, ORD. XII. Solanacee, seu Luride. 228 
THE root is perennial, long, creeping, fibrous. Stalks annual, 
round, crooked, smooth, ane about a foot high. Leaves im pairs, - 
upon footstalks, of an irregular shape, undulated, pointed, veined, 
entire. Calyx persistent, becoming a large orbicular inflated pen- 
tangular membrane inclosing the fruit; segments five, pointed, 
Corolla monopetalous, wheel-shaped; tube very short; limb five- 
parted ; segments five, broad, short, pointed. Filaments five, small, 
tapering, approaching together: antherz erect: germen roundish: 
style filiform, longer than the filaments, terminated by a blunt 
stigma, Fruit a red round two-celled berry, inclosed in the calyx, 
and contaming numerous flat kidney-shaped seeds, 
This plant, which is a native of the South of Europe, is not un- 
frequently found in the gardens of this country, in which it has 
been cultivated ever since the days of Gerard, in 1597. It flowers 
from July till September, and ripens its fruit in October. 
The berries of the Alkekengi, commonly called Winter Cherries, 
were well known to the ancients, and are characteristically described 
by Dioscorides.* 
They have an acidulous and not unpleasant taste, followed by 2 
slight bitterness, which they are szid to derive in a considerable 
degree from the investing calyx, if not gathered with great care.* 
Winter Cherries, though esteemed to be detergent and aperient, 
have been chiefly recommended in the character of a diuretic in 
suppressions of urine, and for removing obstructions occasioned 
by gravel or mucous. With this intention, from six to twelve 
cherris, or an ounce of their expressed juice, have been the dose 
usually employed: there seems, however, to be no danger from a 
much larger quantity ; for in some parts of Germany we are told. 
that the country people eat them by handfuls with much benefit :” 
aud in Spain and Switzerland ‘ they frequently supply the place 
. 
* See Srevyqvor adinaxafor. 
® Lewis. bc » C. Hoffman. De Medicam. off. L.2.c. 217, 
© Quer, Flor. Espann. Tom. ii. p, 224, Hall. l. ¢, 
Ne, 20.— vou. 2. SM 
