CHAP. LXXXIV. S'OLANA^CE^E. ^OLA'NUM. 1267 



p. 409.) A climbing shrub, a native of Europe, Asia, and North America, 

 in hedges and among bushes ; plentiful in Britain ; flowers in June and July. 



Varieties. 



1 S. Z). 1 violdcea Hort. Eyst., p. 385. t. . 384.. No. 3. — Corollas violet. 

 1 S. i>. 2 alba Lin. Fl. Suec, p. 66. — Corollas white. There are 



plants of this variety in the collection of Messrs. Loddiges. 

 1 S. Z). 3 curnea Cels. Ups., 32. — Corollas flesh-coloured. 

 1 S. D. 4!j)lena Tourn. Inst., 149., llort. Eyst., 1. c. — Corollas double. 

 1 S. D. 5 varicgdta Munt., fig. 156., Tourn. Inst., 149., Lodd. Cat., ed. 



1836. — Leaves variegated. 

 1 S. Z). 6 hirsida Don's Mill., iv. p. 409.; S. littorale flor/. — Plant 

 hairy or downy. Flowers violet. I'ound on the sea coast. There 

 are plants in Messrs. Loddiges's collection. 

 1 S. Z). 7 rupi-sfris Schmidt Fl. Bot., p. 69. — Stem erect. Leaves ovate, 

 quite entire. Racemes few-flowered, dichotomous. A native of Bo- 

 hemia. {Don's Mill., iv. p. 409.) 

 Desc)-iptio)i, Projierties, S^-c. The stems of this species are roundish, 

 branched, twisted, and climbing by elongation, among other shrubs, and in 

 hedges, to the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft. or upwards. When bruised, broken, or 

 rubbed, they yield "a strong and peculiar odour, not unlike that which proceeds 

 from rats and mice. The roots smell like potatoes; and both roots and 

 stalks, upon being chewed, first cause a sensation of bitterness, which is soon 

 followed by a considerable degree of sweetness, whence the specific name. 

 The plant has been in repute for its medical virtues since the days of Theo- 

 phrastus, by whom it was called Fitis sylvestris; by Pliny, it was called 

 Melortum. Gerard, Boerhaave, CuUen, and others, attribute to the berries, 

 and also to the leaves and stalks, many virtues ; and the plant is still in great 

 repute among rustic practitioners. In Wales a salve is made from the leaves, 

 which is considered infallible in removing bruises. A decoction of the whole 

 plant, or an infusion of the young twigs, is considered excellent in rheumatic 

 cases, and also in jaundice and scurvy. The berries are poisonous ; and, as 

 they are common in hedges, they are very frequently eaten by children, 

 on whom they operate by exciting violent vomiting and pm-ging. To lessen 

 their deleterious effects, warm water should be administered immediately, and 

 in large quantities, to dilute the poison, and provoke vomiting. To prevent 

 vomiting, when an infusion or decoction of the plant is taken medicinally, it is 

 diluted with milk. (Smith's Eng. FL, i. p. 118.) Trained to a single stem, to 

 the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft., and supported by a strong iron rod, with a parasol 

 top, this common hedge weed might form a very handsome gardenesque 

 pendulous tree. The Acherontia A'tropos Fab., in its larva state (fig. 1081. in 

 p. 1253.) feeds on the bitter-sweet and the elder, as well as on the common 

 white jasmine. 



m. 2. S. suFFRUTico^suM Schousb. The sufii'uticose Nightshade. 



Identification. Schousb. ex Willd. Enum., p.C35. ; Dun. Sol., p. 154. ; Syn., p. 13. ; Don's Mill., 4. 



p. 413. 

 Spec. Char., ^c. Stem unarmed, suffruticose. Leaves ovate, dentately angular, nearly glabrous, 



ciliated. Flowers subpanicled (ex Dun.). Umbels extra-foliaceous, pedunculate (ex IVillil.). 



Branches '2-edged, or quadrangularly winged from the decurrence of the petioles. Angles toothed. 



Leaves large, glaucous, covered above with soft hairs while young. Flowers white. Berries black. 



Very like S. nigrum ; but the stem is shrubby, the leaves larger, and the flowers more numerous, 



Src [Don's Mill., 4. p. 41.3.) A shrub, a native of Barbary, where it grows to the height of 4 ft., and 



flowers from May till September. It was introduced in 1804 ; but we have not seen the plant, 



• fl- 3. S. CRi'sPUW R. Sf S. The carled-leaved Solanum. 



Identification. Rcem. et Schult. Sp. PI., 4 p. ,59.5. ; Fl. Peruv., 2. f, 1. t, 158. f. a. ; Dunal Solan., 159. ; 



Syii. p. 16. No. 78. ; Lindl. Bot. Reg., t. 1516. ; Don's Mill., 4. p. 414. 

 Engravings. Bot. Reg., 1. 1516. ; and omjlg. 1105. 



Spec. Char., c'y-c. Stem shrubby. Leaves ovate, subcordate, wavedly curled, 

 acuminate. Flowers corymbose. {Rccm. et Schult. Sp. PL, iv. p. 95.) Leaves 

 all simple, undivided, ovate, or cordate, acuminate, petiolate, slightly curled 

 at the margin ; vounger leaves powdery, but full-grown ones green. Cymes 



4o 3 



