THE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 365 



Mentha Cunninghamii {Cunningham' s Mint). 



A slender, prostrate, fragrant herb. Stems often matted, hairy. Leaves 

 J in. -J in. long, rounded or oblong, obtuse, pellucid-dotted. Flowers axillary, 

 solitary. Calyx ^x> i"--K in. long. Both islands: dry places. Fl. Dec. -Feb. 



Fig, 1'21. Solanum aviculare (i nat. size). 



Solanaceae. 



The Nightshade Family. 



Distribution. — A large family, chiefly tropical. A few of the species 

 furnish edible fruits or tubers, but the greater number are narcotic and poisonous. 

 The most important of all the species is Solanum tuberosum, the Potato. This 

 plant contains a small quantity of the narcotic principle solanine, which, 

 however, is destroyed by cooking. The Tomato, the Egg-plant, the Capsicum, 

 the Cape Gooseberry, and the Winter-cherry, are all members of this family. 

 Datura, Nicotiana, and Petimia are cultivated for their flowers. The Henbane 

 (Hyoscxjamus nigcr), the IMandrake (Mandragora officinalis), and the Deadly 



