70 NOTES ON THE WILD POTATO. 



This appears to be distinct from the potato, and may be called 

 Solanum demissum* because of its dvvarfness. It was attacked 

 by the disease in July. The stems exhibited the characteristic 

 blotches in a ivorse degree than any other sort in the Garderi. 

 The runners were also affected. 



Amongst the "Tubers of Mexican potatoes growing at 8000 

 to 9000 feet of elevation," which proved to be chiefly the two 

 sorts last mentioned, there was a plant entirely different from 

 either. It had an erect stiff stem, about a foot in height, 

 very dark-green heart-shaped leaflets, and small cream-coloured 

 flowers much like those of tlie black nightshade (Solanum 

 nigrum). It formed very small roundish white tubers, which 

 were less watery than the last, and it was not attacked by 

 disease. From its having been found mixed with other samples 

 of potatoes, it had probably been gathered accidentally. 



This species, although producing potato-like tubers, and be- 

 longing to the same section of the genus as the true potato, can 

 in no way be confounded with it. It does not appear to be of 

 any value, but deserves to be put on record as a curious new 

 form of the genus. Its deeply heart-shaped leaves render the 

 name S. cardiophyllum f appropriate. 



In addition to the foregoing, packets were also received from 

 Mr. Uhde, labelled "Tubers of a Red Potato, found growing 

 wild in Mexico at 8000 feet elevation, possibly brought from 

 Peru ;" and " Tubers of a Potato found in Mexico, supposed 

 to be Peruvian ;" a third packet contained some " Red Po- 

 tatoes, like Peruvian." These all proved to be a small, but 

 productive sort of potato, round and pink-coloured, very like the 

 Azores variety. Amongst them one plant had white kidney- 

 shaped tubers. Their stems and foliage were much like those 

 of some varieties of the common potato, and distinct from the 

 others imported from Mexico along with them. They were all 

 affected slightly by the disease. 



The foregoing facts, and those adduced in Mr. Thompson's 

 Report, No. XII., prove conclusively that there is no known pre- 

 ventive of the disease ; that neither renewal by seed, nor intro- 



* S. demissum; herbaceum, prostratum, stoloniferum, tuberosum, csesium, 

 pubescens, foliis subinterrupte pinnatis, foliolis obovatis rotuudatis, calycis 

 5-ficli laciniis triangularibus acuminatis, corolla circular! lO-dentata, baccis 

 sphsei'oideis glabris. 



■j- S. cardiophi/lltim ; herbaceum, erectum, stoloniferum, tuberosum, atro- 

 viride, glaberrimum, foliis auriculatis pinnatis 2-3-jugis, foliolis baud inter- 

 niptis subrotundis cordatis carnosulis decrescentibus, cymis paucifloris 

 terminalibus, calyce glabro cyathiformi quinquedentato, corolla 5-partita 

 laciniis triangularibus planis acuminatis demum revolutis. 



