COROLLIFLOR^. 599 



tropical regions. Examples: — Physalis, Cestrura, Habrothara- 

 nus, Capsicum, Solanum. Miers enumerates 42 genera as be- 

 longing to this order. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order frequently 

 possess narcotic properties, but not by any means to the same ex- 

 tent as those of the Atropaceae of Miers. Some are pungent 

 and stimulant owing to the presence of an acrid resin. Others 

 contain a bitter tonic principle, and a few have edible fruits, or 

 tubers. It has been stated that the juice of the Solanacese does 

 not produce dilatation of the pupil as is the case ^yith many 

 plants of the order Atropaceae. 



Physalis peruviana has an edible fruit which is called the Peruvian Winter 

 Cherry. P. alkekengi, Winter Cherry, and some other species, are diuretic. 

 P. somnifera, as its name implies, possesses narcotic properties. 



Punneeria coagtd'.ms — The dried fruit is employed in India as a carmina- 

 tive and stomachic, and also as a substitute for rennet in making cheese, &c. 



Capsicutn. — The species of this penus are remarkable for the presence of an 

 acrid resin (capsicine) in their fruits, which renders ihem hot, pungent, and 

 stimulating. The various species of Capsicum are generally supposed to be 

 natives of South America, from wlience they have become distributed over the 

 world. There are several species and varieties of Capsiaim in common use, 

 one of which is officinal, namely, the C. annwim of Linnjeus, or the C. Jas- 

 tigiatum of Blume. Tlie fruits of this are commonly sold as chillies. They are 

 sometimes two or three inches in length, whilst in other varieties they are not 

 more than one inch. The shorter variety is the best. Cayenne Pepper is the 

 powdered fruits of probably several species of Capsicum found in the West 

 Indies and South America, "but principally it is Siiid of C.frutescens (Bird- 

 pepper or Guinea-pepper), and perhaps of C. boccatmn. Other varieties 

 or species of Capsicum, are the C. cerasiforme (Cherry-Pepper or Round 

 Chilli), C. f^rossum (.Bell Pepper), &c. 



Solan>t7n.— The Common Patato, which is so largely used as food in temperate 

 climate-i, is the tuber of S. tuberosiwi. A decoction of the stem and leaves of S. 

 tuberosum has been used as an alterative in cutaneous diseases, and an extract 

 of the herb has been also employed as a narcotic and antispasmodic. The medi- 

 cinal properties of the potato plant are chiefly due to the presence of a small 

 quantity of an alkaloid called Solanma, which"has powerful narcotic properties. 

 Solanina does not produce dilatation of the pupil like the alkaloids of the Atro- 

 pace^; and hence the reason why the juice of the Solanaceje generally differs in 

 such respect from that of Atropaceae. Solanina has bee;' detected in all parts of 

 the Potato plant, but in the tuber only traces of it are to be fonnd, and these are 

 entirely removed by the process of boiling and preparing potatoes for the 

 table. Starch is largely obtained from potatoes, and used for food under the 

 TiAmes oi English arrow-root, Bright's nutritious Jarina. ^c. It is also em- 

 ployed in the preparation oi dextrine or Starch.gum,\\\\\ch is used in the art«, 

 ^•c. as a substitute for gum, size, and paste. Solanwn Dulcamara, Woody 

 Nightshade or Bitter-sweet. The stem and twigs of this plant are employed 

 as an alterative in cutaneous diseases. They also possess slight narcotic pro- 

 pprties owing to the presence of solanina. 5 nigrum. Black Nightshade, 

 also possesses alterative and narcotic properties. The fruit is said to be 

 edible, but if this be the case, its use for food requires caition, as solanina 

 has been found in it. The fruits of several species of Solanum are however 

 eaten in various parts of the world, as those of S. Melongena and ovigcrum, 

 called Egg-apples; those of 5. quitoense, named Quito Oranges; also those of 

 S. laciniatum in Australia, where they are termed Kangaro6-apples ; and those 

 of 5. muricotum and nemorense in Peru. S. margiriatu'u has astringent 

 properties, and is employed in Abvssinia in the process of tanning. S. Pseudo- 

 qiiina, a Brazilian species, is nuich employed in that country as a tonic and 

 febri'uge. Several speci"s of Solanum are also reputed to have diuretic pro- 

 perties, as S. mammosum, paniculntum, ^c. The flowers and leaves of 

 S. cernuum are sudorific, and have been employed in gonorrhoea, syphilis. &c. 

 Lycopersicon esculentum. — This plant produces the fruits called Love-apples 

 or "tomatoes so much employed in the preparation of sauces. 

 QQ4 



