NIGHTSHADE TRIBE. 447 



2. 8. nigrum (Black Nightshade). Stem herbaceous ; 

 leaves egg-shaped, wavy at the edge, and bluntly toothed ; 

 flowers drooping. Waste ground, common. A branch- 

 ing herb, with drooping umbels of white flowers and 

 black globular berries. Fl. July September. Annual. 



2. ATROPA (Deadly Nightshade). 



1. A. Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade, Dwale). A 

 stout herbaceous plant, 3 4 feet high, with large egg- 

 shaped leaves, and solitary, drooping, bell-shaped flowers, 

 which grow in the axils of the upper leaves, and are of 

 a lurid purple hue. The berries are black, and as large 

 as cherries, which they somewhat resemble in appearance, 

 but may be readily distinguished by the calyx at the 

 base. This noxious plant, which is the most dangerous 

 growing in Britain, on account of its active poisonous 

 properties and the attractive appearance of its berries, 

 is fortunately of rare occurrence, growing principally in 

 old quarries and among ruins. Buchanan relates that 

 the Scots mixed the juice of Belladonna with the bread 

 and drink, with which by their truce they were to sup- 

 ply the Danes, which so intoxicated them, that the Scots 

 killed the greater part of Sweno's army while asleep. 

 The "insane root that takes the reason prisoner," men- 

 tioned by Shakspeare, is also thought to be this. The 

 English name Dwale is derived from a French word 

 deuil, which signifies "mourning." Fl. June August. 

 Perennial. 



3. HYOSCYAMUS (Henbane). 



1. H. niger (Common Henbane). The only British 

 species, common in waste places, especially on a chalky 

 soil or near the sea. An erect, branched, herbaceous 

 plant, 2 3 feet high, with large, viscid, hairy leaves, 

 and numerous funnel-shaped, cream-coloured^owrs with 

 purple veins and a dark eye. The flowers are arranged 

 in rows along one side of the stem, and are succeeded by 

 2-celled capsules, which are enclosed by the calyx, and 



