2g6 SOLANACE^. 



opening by terminal pores. {Lycopersicum, tomato, is 



very similar but has pinnate leaves.) 



Species perhaps i,ooo in tropical and sub-tropical regions 

 and especially in America. 



The ordinary not the ' Sweet ') potato is a tuberous enlargement of an 

 underground branch, it<? ' eyes ' being undeveloped buds (from which the 

 new shoots arise when a tuber or a portion of it is planted). It was 

 introduced into Europe from South America. The Brinjal or Eggplant is 

 the fruit (berry) of S. melongena. 



Solanum dcnticulatum Blume, var gouakai ; F.B.L iv 

 232, 1 10 var. Stem smooth or pubescent, without prickles, 

 /^ inch, thick. Leaf-stalk ^ to I inch ; blade 2 to 4 

 inches, ovate, acute or acuminate, narrowed to the stalk, 

 with a few large coarse teeth in the further half, nearly 

 or quite glabrous. Flowers several together in a leaf- 

 axil ; stalk Yzio y^ inch. Corolla ^ inch, white. Berry 

 M inch, red, glabrous. Wight Ic. t. 1397. 



In shady places. Pulneys in woods below Kodaikanal at 

 6,500 feet and below (Glen falls), flowering June. Rare at the 

 higher levels. Nilgiris : Kotagiri. Fyso?t 506, 380, 3057. 

 Bourne 2681, 1131, 2808. 



Gen^ Dist. South India and Ceylon. 



The species was founded by Blume on the Java plant, which has entire 

 leaves, more than twice as long as broad. Our plant was originally described 

 as a distinct species - S. gouakai, by Dunal. 



Solanum indicum Linih, var multiflora Wight ; F.B.L 

 iv 235, 1 20 var. A low bush ; stem much branched, stout, 

 purplish but covered with stellate, woolly, tomentum, 

 armed, as also the leaves on the veins, with stout, flat 

 (compressed), thorns, up to J^ inch high, and 1/5 by 1/8 

 inch, broad at the base. Leaves 3 inches, ovate, with 

 triangular lobes ; densely tomentose underneath, thinly so 

 above. Flowers in raceme-like double rows on stout 

 branches of short, dense, panicles, which are stellately 

 woolly and also armed with small spines. Pedicel i/io 

 inch, thick, spiny; in fruit Yz inch, gradually thickening 

 to the spreading sepals, armed with i/s inch or longer 

 slender spines. Sepals i/io inch, tomentose, linear. 



