96 Mr. J. Miers on the Solauacese. 



are sufficiently evident and numerous enough to constitute a 

 wide generic distinction — the affinity of Hypnoticum being much 

 closer to Phijsalis, from which it differs in its much smaller 

 corolla and the adnate placentation of its seeds. 



M. Dunal has formed another section of Withania out of the 

 Puneeria coagulnns (Stocks), a plant extremely different from the 

 former genus ; in habit and structure it more nearly approaches 

 Hypnoticum, resembling it greatly in the form of its flowers ; 

 the calyx, however, instead of becoming inflated to a larger dia- 

 meter than the berry, and reticulated and vesicular, in Puneeria 

 invests it closely, remaining opake and tomentous, destitute 

 of visible nervures, brittle, and of the texture of tender paper. 

 Its flowers are dioecious, a rare occuri-ence among the Sola- 

 nacece; the corolla is tubular, scarcely funnel-shaped, with a 

 narrow border of five short reflexed teeth : the whole plant is 

 covered with dense tomentum consisting of stellated brachiate 

 hairs, as in Physalis and Hypnoticum : in these features there is 

 little in common with TFit/umia. 



Larnax differs from Withania in its herbaceous stems and fas- 

 ciculated axillary flowers, in its minute urceolate calyx with five 

 short blunt teeth, which increases in size with the growth of the 

 fruit ; it is of thin texture, becomes inflated and globular, closely 

 investing and concealing the berry, its mouth being much con- 

 tracted and tubular, as in Margaranthus. The corolla is some- 

 what bell-shaped, with a border equal in length to the tubular 

 portion, divided into five expanded oblong segments : its stamens 

 have capillary filaments. One species is made to form a section 

 of Withania by M. Dunal [Pseudowithania), but it will be seen 

 to hold little resemblance to that genus. 



The remaining species before alluded to, included by M. Dunal 

 in Withania, may therefore be thus disposed of; viz. — 



1. Withania somnifera. Dun. is Hypnoticum somniferum, Rodr. 



2. Morrisoni, Dun. = Larnax Morrisoni, nob. Agreeing with 



this genus in its numerous fasciculated 

 flowers, its small urceolate calyx and 

 red berries enclosed in an inflated calyx, 

 and in the country of its origin : its 

 characters are quite at variance with 

 WitJiania. 



3. Orinocensis, Dun. = Larnax Orinocensis, nob. {huj. op. iv. 



p. 38). 



4. Xalapensis, Dun. = Larnax Xalapensis, nol). (ibid.). 



5. subtrijlora. Dun. = Larnax subtrijlora, nob. {ibid.). 



6. arborescens. Dun. =: of doubtful affinity, not only in regard 



to the genus, but to the family to 

 which it belongs : its berry is said to be 

 10-celled, each cell being 1-seeded: it 

 cannot therefore belong to Solanacece. 



