226 GAMOPETALOUS EXOGENS 



3'16. 1VICAHFDRA, Adans. 



[Dedicated to Nicander; a sort of Natural-History Poet, of Colophon, in Ionia.] 

 Calyx 5-parted, acutely 5-angled ; segments sagittate-ovate, enlarged 

 in fruit, and inclosing the 3- to 5-celled globular dry berry. Corolla 

 spreading-campanulate, with the plicate border nearly entire. 

 Annual : smooth ; leaves like those of Datura ; flowers solitary, on 

 extra-axillary and terminal peduncles. 



1. N. physaloides, Gaertn. Stem branching ; leaves oblong-ovate, 

 sinuate-angled, the upper ones often opposite. 

 PHYSALIS-LIKE NICANDRA. Apple of Peru. 



Stem 2 to 4 feet high ; branches angular, spreading. Leaves 3 to 5 or 6 inches 

 long, decurrent on the petioles, which are 1 to 2 inches in length, ttduncles 1 to 2 

 inches long ; calyx-segments cuspidate-acuminate, membranous, reticulately veined ; 

 cardla pale blue, whitish at bottom and marked with 5 radiating blue spots. 

 Sab. Gardens. Nat. of Peru. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This plant seems to be naturalized in many of our gardens. 



. PIIY'SAMS, L. 



[Gr. Physa, a bladder, or bag ; in allusion to the inflated calyx.] 

 Calyx 5-cleft, enlarging after flowering, becoming much inflated, 

 and including the 2-celled globular fleshy berry. Corolla spreading- 

 campanulate, the plicate border somewhat 5-lobed. Leaves some- 

 what in pairs ; peduncles extra-axillary, 1-flowered. 



1. p. viscasa, L. Divergently branching; leaves sub-cordate- 

 ovate, repand-dentate ; flowers nodding. 

 CLAMMY PHYSALIS. Ground-Cherry. 



Plant viscid-pubescent ; perennial f Stem 12 to 18 inches high, branched some- 

 what dichotomously. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, varying from lance-ovate and 

 aoute, to roundish-ovate or subcordate and obtuse ; petioles 1 to 2 inches long. 

 Cbrotta greenish-yellow, with fuscous or purplish-brown spots at base, about twice 

 as long as the calyx. Berry greenish-yellow, or sometimes orange color, when 

 mature, clammy. Peduncles of the fruit about an inch long. 

 Hob. Roadsides, fields, and fence-rows: frequent. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The P. lanceolata, of the preceding edition, being somewhat 

 uncertain, and having never found it, myself, I prefer leaving it 

 for some future investigator to determine whether it really belongs 

 to our Chester County flora. 



CAPSICUM. Tournef. 

 [Gr. Kapto, to bite ; in allusion to its hot or biting quality.] 



Calyx angular, 5- or 6-cleft, persistent. Corolla sub-rotate; bor- 

 der plicate, 5- or 6-lobed. Stamens 5 or 6, exserted. Berry 

 inflated, with a fleshy rind, or nearly dry, polymorphous, incom- 

 pletely 2- or 3-celled ; seeds compressed, reniform. 



! C. XNNUUM, L. Herbaceous; leaves ovate, acuminate, entire, 



glabrous; peduncles solitary, axillary. 



ANNUAL CAPSICUM. Red Pepper. Cayenne Pepper. 



Stem 1 to 2 feet high, angular, branching above. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long ; 

 ptttoles 1 to 3 inches in length, semi-terete, slightly channelled above. 



