4G3 LXXXll. SOLANE^. [Sohnnm. 



Leaves deeply pinnatifid, with oblong very obtuse entire or sinuate lobes, tlie 

 whole leaf 1 to 2 in. long. Flowers in lateral racemes, often as long as the 

 leaves, but as in several allied species usually sterile except the lowest one of 

 each raceme, which is on a longer pedicel proceeding from the base of tlie 

 peduncle. Calyx about 3 lines long, with lanceolate acuminate lobes, with- 

 out prominent keels or midribs, enlarged and very prickly round the growing 

 fruit. Corolla (about f in. diameter?) with short broad lobes. Anthers 

 tapering upwards. Fruit only seen young. 



N. Anstralia. TJ])per Victoria river, F, Mueller; La Grange Bay, N.W, coast, 

 Marten ; Port Walcott, Barper, 



The monoecious character upon which the specific name was founded is common to several 

 of the following species as well as to the American and Asiatic group of Melo^igena^ but 

 appears to exist in a less degree in some other groups so as to be scarcely available, in the 

 present state of our acquaintance with the genus, as a sectional distinction. 



42. S. carduiforme, F. MuelL Fragm, ii. 163. An erect herb of 1 

 to 3 ft. of a pale glaucous green, covered with a stellate tonientum rather 

 loose on tlie branches, very short and not dense on both sides of the leaves. 

 Prickles rather slender bnt long and very numerous on the branches, leaves, 

 and especially on the female calyxes. Leaves narrow, irregjularly pinnatifja, 

 with rather narrow obtuse entire or sinuate lobes, the whole leaf 3 to 4 in. 

 long. Sterile flowers numerous, in dense racemes on long lateral peduncles. 

 Calyx at the time of flowering about 3 lines long, campanulate, with hrom 

 lobes. Corolla not large. Fertile flowers probably solitary on lateral 

 peduncles, which are still very short in fruit. Fruiting calyx large, globular, 

 very densely armed" with long rigid prickles, enclosing a globular berry ot 



a m. or more. 



M teller. 



Itf. Australia. Sandy and rocky banks of Nicholson river, Gulf of Carpentaria, f- 



■teller, 



43. S. ■melanospernnun, F. Muell Iragm. ii. 163. An erect shrnb 

 or undershrub of 1 to 3 (or 4?) ft., the branches foliage and inflorescence 

 densely and softly stellate-tomentose. Prickles not very long, straight, 

 rather numerous on the stem, few on the leaves, more abundant and stoutei 

 on the calyxes. Leaves petiolate, ovate, scarcely acute, thick and soft, 1. 2 to 

 |i in. lonj?, rather deeply sinuate-lobed, with broad very obtuse lobe^- 

 Flowers not seen. Fruiting pedicels solitary, lateral, above 1 m. lo'ic- 

 Berry yellow, globular, at least 1 in. diameter, surrounded by the large, 

 almost membranous broadly lobed calvx, armed with stout prickles, at tirj 

 closely appressed and almost covering' the fruit at length reflexed. ^^eeu 

 large and black as in 8. cataphradum. 



N. Australia. Abel Tasman river, F. Mueller. Like S. cata^nraclum, this is ^^■ 

 bably monoecious and of the 3fefo«^^«a group. 



44. S. horridum. Bun. Spi. Sol. 28, andin DO. Prod. xiii. pari 1 296. 

 Branches foliage and inflorescence very copiously woolly-hirsute with lo".- 

 loose stellate hairs of a yellowish or rusty colour. Trickles long straight ami 

 very numerous on the stem and leaves, usually rather smaller on the calyxes- 

 Leaves on long petioles, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or scarcely obtuse, en- 

 tire or sinuate and often much undulate, 1 to 2 in. long. Pedicels m "" 





