598 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Sub-order 2. Curvemhryca>. — Embryo slender, terete, and curved 

 in a more or less annular or spiral manner {fig. 978). Ex- 

 amples : — Capsicum, Solanum. 



Distribution and lumbers. — They are scattered over various 

 parts of the globe except the polar circles, but are most abun- 

 dant in tropical regions. This order and the Atropacese contain 

 together, according to Miers, about 1,100 species. 



Fropcrties and Uses. — The plants of this order frequently 

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

 extent as those of the Atropacese. Fatal cases of poisoning 

 have, however, occurred from their improper use. 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, leaves, or tubers. It has been stated that the juice of the 

 Solanacese does not produce dilatation of the pupil of the eye, as 

 is the case with that of many plants of the order Atropaceae. 



Capsicum. — The species of this genus are remarkable for the presence of 

 an acrid resin (capsicine) in their fi-nits, which rendei's them hot, pungent, 

 and stimulating. The various species of Capsicum are generally supposed 

 to be natives of South America, from whence they have become distributed 

 over the world. There are several species and varieties of Capsicum in 

 common use, one of which is officinal, namely, the C. fastigiatum. of 

 151ume {C. annuum of Linnasus). The fruits of this are commonly sold as 

 chillies. They are sometimes two or three inches in length, whilst in other 

 varieties they are less than one inch. The shorter variety is the best, 

 and constitutes the officinal capsicums of the British Pharmacopoeia. 

 Cayenne Pepper is the powdered fruits of probably several species of Capsi- 

 cum, but principally of C. fastigiatum. Other varieties or species of Capsicu/n 

 in use are the C. cerasifoime (CheiTy-Pepper or Round Chilli), C. grossum 

 (Bell Pepper), C. //wtece^js (Spice Pepper), C. baccatum (Bird Pepper), C. 

 tetragon um (Bonnet Pepper). 



Lycopersicon esculeiitum. — This plant produces the fi-uits called Love-apples 

 or Tomatoes, so much employed in the preparation of sauca?. 



Physalis.—P. peruviana has an edible fruit which is known as the Peruvian 

 Winter CheiTy. P. alkekevgi. Winter Cherry, and some other species, are 

 diuretic. Physalis (Withania) somni/era, as its name implies, is reputed to 

 possess narcotic properties. 



Puneeria (Withania) coaguJans. — The dried frait is employed in India as a 

 carminative and stomachic, and also as a substitute for rennet in making 

 cheese, &c. 



Solanwn.— The Common Potato, which is so largely used as food in tem- 

 pei-ate climates, is the tuber of ,S. tuberosum. A decoction of the stem and 

 leaves has been used as an alterative in cutaneous diseases, and an ex- 

 tract of the herb has bcpn also employed as a narcotic and antispasmodic. 

 The leaves when roasted have been used with success for thickening 

 mordants in dyeing. The medicinal properties of the potato plant are chiefly 

 due to the presence of a small quantity of an alkaloid called Solanina, which 

 has powerful narcotic properties. Solanina does not produce dilatation of 

 the pupil like the alkaloids of the Atropacese ; and hence the reason why the 

 juice of the Solanacefe generally differs in such respect from that of the 

 Atropacea?. Solanina has been detected in all parts of the Potato plant, but 

 in the tuber only traces of it are to be found, 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 names of 

 English arrowroot, Bright's nutritious farina, &c. It is also employed in 

 the preparation of dextrine or Starch-gum, which is used in the arts, &c. as a 

 substitute for gum, size, and paste. Solanum Dulcamara, Woody Nightshade 



