600 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



either introrse or extrorse, and always dehiscing longitudinally. 

 The chief distinctive character between the two orders lies in 

 the diiferent sestivation of their corollas. 



Distribution, S^'c. — They abound in tropical regions, but some 

 are found in most parts of the world except in the coldest 

 regions. Examples of the Genera : — Nicotiana, Datura, Salpi- 

 glossis, Hyoscyamus, Atropa, Lycium. This order with the 

 preceding contains about 1,100 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Many of the plants have powerful 

 narcotic properties ; hence several are very poisonous The juice 

 of numerous species will produce dilatation of the pupil of the 

 eye. (See Propierties and Uses of the Solanaceee, p. 698.) 



Atropa Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade or Dwale,is a powerful poison. It 

 is employed internally as an anodyne and antispasmodic, and externally for 

 dilating the pupil. It owes its activity to a peculiar alkaloid called atropia, 

 which is frequently employed to produce dilatation of the pupil, and for 

 other purposes. Atropia is a most powerful poison. 



Datura. — D. Stramonium. A narcotic property is possessed by all parts of 

 the plant, and is especially developed in the seeds. Its medicinal effects 

 resemble those of Atropa BeUadonna. It is employed as an anodyne and 

 antispasmodic. In spasmodic asthma, smoking the herb, or inhalation from 

 its infusion in warm water, has frequently given great relief, but its u^e 

 requires much ca^^tion, as it has in some instances produced fatal results. A 

 strong decoction of the leaves is used in Cochin China as a remedy for 

 hydrophobia, in which disease it is reputed to be very efficacious. Stra- 

 monium owes its principal activity to the presence of a narcotic alkaloid 

 called daturia, which much resembles hyoscyamia and atropia, the alkaloids 

 respectively of Hyoscyamus niger and Atropa Belladonna. Daturia is a 

 powerful poison, and strongly dilates the pupil. D. alba, D, TatnJa, D. 

 fastuosa, and others, have similar properties to D. Stramonium. The fruit 

 of D. san guinea, the Red Thorn- Apple, is in use among the Indians of the 

 Andes, and in Central America, in the preparation of narcotic drinks ; these, 

 it is believed, produce a peculiar excitement, and enable those who partake 

 of them to have communication with the spirits of their ancestors. 



Hyoscyamus niger. Henbane.— The whole herb possesses narcotic pro- 

 perties, and is employed medicinally as a narcotic, anodyne, and soporific. 

 Its activity is essentially due to the presence of the alkaloid hyoscyamia, 

 which is a powerful poison resembling atropia and daturia, and like them it 

 causes dilatation of the pupil. Two varieties of Henbane are commonly cul- 

 tivated, the Annual and the Biennial ; the latter of which is the most active. 

 Mandragora officinalis, the true Mandrake. — The roots have a fancied 

 resemblance to the human form, hence their name. This Mandrake must 

 not be confounded with the roots of Bryonia dioica, which are also sometimes 

 so named. (See p. 544.) Mandrake is an acrid-narcotic poison, and was used 

 by the ancients as an anaesthetic. The plant is called Devil's-apple by the 

 .Arabs. Mandrake is considered to be the Dudaim of Scripture. 



Nicotiana. — The leaves of various species and varieties supply the different 

 kinds of Tobacco, now in such general use in some form or other in nearly 

 every part of the globe. Mr. Crawford estimated the consumption of 

 Tobacco in the British Islands in 1851 at 28,062,978 lbs., being at the rate of 

 16"86 oz. per head of the population. He also estimated the total annual 

 production at 2,000,000 of tons, which, at the value of 2rf. per pound, would 

 amomt to 37,000,000?. sterling. Tlie consumption of tobacco in this 

 country has enormously increased of late years, and is still increasing. 

 Thus in the year 1841 the quantity of tobacco cleared for consumption in 

 the UDited Kingdom amounted to 13f oz. per head of population. In the 

 year 1851 the amount had increased to 1 lb. OJ oz. per head ; in the year 

 1861 to 1 lb. 3^ oz. ; in the year 1863 to 1 lb. 4^ oz. ; and in the j^ear 1865 to 

 1 lb. 5 oz. Tobacco owes its principal properties to the presence of an 



