480 CONVOLVULACEH. [Cuscuta. 
C. nove-zealandia, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. (1889) 183 (name only). 
—After a careful examination of the type specimens in Mr. Kirk’s herbarium, I 
have no hesitation in referring this to the northern C. epithymum, Linn., which 
has been observed in many localities in the colony, and which often associates 
itself with the indigenous vegetation. 
Orpver LIII. SOLANACEA. 
Herbs or shrubs, rarely small trees. Leaves alternate, often in 
unequally placed pairs, but never truly opposite, entire or lobed 
or pinnate; stipules wanting. Flowers regular or occasionally 
slightly irregular, hermaphrodite, solitary or cvmose; bracts want- 
ing. Calyx inferior, persistent, 4—5-toothed or -lobed. Corolla 
gamopetalous, hypogynous, 4—5-toothed or -lobed, campanulate or 
funnel-shaped or rotate, often plicate. Stamens 4-5, inserted on 
the tube of the corolla and alternate with its lobes; anthers free 
or conniving, dehiscing lengthwise or by apical pores. Ovary 
superior, 2-celled, rarely incompletely 4-celled; style terminal, 
simple ; stigma entire or 2-lobed; ovules numerous, amphitropous, 
on prominent peltate placentas attached to the middle of the 
septum. Fruit a berry or capsule, usuaily 2-celled, many-seeded. 
Seeds small, compressed or reniform; albumen copious; embryo 
terete, curved or almost spiral, radicle next the hilum. 
A large and widely diffused family, most numerous in the tropics, but ex- 
tending northwards and southwards into most temperate regions. Genera 
between 60 and 70; species variously estimated, probably considerably over 
1000. The order must be considered a dangerous one, from the large number 
of species containing narcotic and poisonous principles, as the deadly night- 
shade, henbane, tobacco, stramonium, &c. A few species are simply tonic and 
bitter, while others are pungent and stimulant, as the various kinds of capsi- 
cums. But, notwithstanding the generally suspicious character of the order, 
it nevertheless furnishes one of the chief articles of vegetable food in the potato, 
and also includes the tomato, egg-plant, and cape gooseberry. Among garden 
plants the genera Petunia, Salpiglossis, Cestrum, and Datwra are the most 
noteworthy. The sole New Zealand genus is almost cosmopolitan. 
1. SOLANUM. Linn. 
Herbs or shrubs or small trees, unarmed or spinous. Leaves 
alternate, often in pairs, a smaller one being developed in the axil of 
the larger one, entire or irregularly toothed or divided. Flowers 
solitary or more frequently in short racemes or cymes, lateral or 
terminal. Calyx 5-10-lobed or -partite. Corolla rotate or shortly 
campanulate; tube short; limb 5-10-lobed, plaited. Stamens 34, 
inserted on the throat of the corolla, exserted; filaments short ; 
anthers oblong or linear, erect and connivent imto a cone around 
the style, opening by 2 terminal pores. Ovary 2-celled, rarely 
3-4-celled ; style simple; stigma small; ovules numerous. Fruit 
a small or large 2-celled many-seeded berry. Seeds numerous, 
discoid or reniform. 
