THE POTATO FAMILY, 189 



flowers are quite different, showing how the vegetative 

 parts of plants acquire similar forms under like 

 conditions, as explained of Stape'lia (Fig. 90, p. 227). 



General Description of the Convolvulus Family. 



Herhs — Mostly climbing by the stem, parasitic in 

 Cus'cuta. 



Leaves — Various, wanting in Cus'cuta. 



Flowers — Mostly large, handsome, parts in fives ; 

 corolla funnel or bell-shaped, petals twisted in bud; 

 stamens adherent to corolla ; ovary, 2- or 4-celled, with 

 honey-disc below. 



Fruit — Capsule. 



Solanaceae. 



The Potato Family. 



This order contains some 1250 species of 65 genera 

 in 5 tribes. In South Africa there are 8 genera. 



Many of this family are poisonous, as the thorn- 

 apple, BatvJra Stramo'niur}i, easily known by its long, 

 tubular white flowers and prickly capsules, which is a 

 naturalized weed at the Cape. 



The Tobacco plant. Henbane, and Deadly Night- 

 shade are useful plants for medicine, but are all 

 dangerous herbs. The Mandrake, which was supposed 

 to shriek when torn out of the ground, but of which 

 the root was a charm against evil spirits, is a species 



