ORDER LXXXVII. GENTIAN ACE^. 



187 



1. N Tabacum. 



Tobacco. 



Viscid-pubescent ; stern erect, paniculate above ; leaves very long, lanceo- 

 late, sessile, decurrent ; flowers dull rose-color, rather handsome; corolla-tube 

 inflated at the throat; lobes acute. A coarse, rank plant, with large, clammy, 

 pubescent leaves, which are often 2 ft. long. Stem 46 ft. high. The common 

 tobacco is cultivated in Southern N. Eng., and in all the Middle, Eastern and 

 Southern States, but most abundantly In the latter. July. 



8. DATtKA. 



Calyx tubular, ventricose, 6-angled, 6-toothed, separating 

 transversely in fruit from the persistent, orbicular base. Corolla 

 funnel-form, with a long-cylindrical tube; limb plaited, 5-parted. 

 Stigma 2 lipped. Capsule globular, prickly, 2-celled, 2-valved. 

 Seeds large. An. 



1. D. Stramonium. 



Thorn Apple. 



Smooth ; stem erect, dichotomons, fleshy, hollow, sometimes spotted with 

 purple ; leaves large, ovate, irregularly dentate, almost lobed, of a dark, lurid 

 green, on long, fleshy petioles ; flowers large, 2' 8' long, dull white, often tinged 

 with dull purple, on peduncles arising from the forks of the branches; calyx- 

 teeth acuminate; fruit of the size and shape of a hen's egg, covered with short, 

 sharp, tumid spines. A rank and extremely poisonous weed, common in waste 

 ground*. The odor of the flowers and of the leaves when bruised is extremely 

 offensive. Stem 1 3 ft. high. 



4. NICANDRA. 



Calyx 5-cleft, 5-angled ; angles compressed. Segments sagit- 

 tate, enlarged in fruit, and covering the 3 5-celled, globose berry. 

 Corolla campanulate ; border open, plaited, nearly entire. Sta- 

 mens 5, converging. An. 



1. N. physaloides. 



Apple of Peru. 



Smooth, herbaceous; stem erect, branching; leaves large, broad-ovate, sin- 

 uately toothed, angular; flowers axillary, terminal, solitary, pale-blue, white in 

 the centre, with 5 blue spots ; calyx closed, with the angles very acute. A coarse 

 weed-like herb, common in gardens, sometimes springing up spontaneously in 

 waste grounds. Stem 2 5ft. high. Aug. An. 



5. PIIYSALI9. 



Calyx 5-cleft, persistent, reticulated, inflated after flowering, 

 and inclosing the globular, 2-celled berry. Corolla spreading, 

 campanulate, with a very short tube ; limb obscurely 5-lobed. 

 Stamens 5, converging. An. 



1. P. viscosa. Yellow Henbane. 



Viscid-pubescent ; stem at first erect, afterward decumbent, branching, her- 

 baceous ; leaves solitary or in pairs, ovate, or lance-ovate, cordate or tapering at 

 base, repandly toothed, or entire; flowers nodding, solitary, growing just above 

 the axils ; corolla greenish-yellow, twice as long as the calyx-segments, with 5 

 brownish spots at the base inside ; fruit yellow or orange-color, inclosed in the 

 inflated, angular calyx. A very variable plant, about a foot high, common on 

 dry hills and road-sides. July Aug. 



6. CAPSICUM. 



Calyx erect, 5-parted, persistent. Corolla rotate ; tube very 

 short ; limb plaited, 5-lobed. Stamens converging. Capsule dry, 

 inflated, 2 3-celled. Seeds flat, extremely acrid. An. 



1. C annuum. 



Eed Pepper. 



Smooth ; stem herbaceous, angular, branching above ; leaves ovate-acumi- 

 nate, petiolate, entire ; flowers axillary, solitary, nodding ; peduncles smooth ; 

 calyx angular, with 5 short, acute lobes ; corolla white, lobes spreading, larger 

 than the calyx ; fruit oblong, or subglobose, varying from dull red to yellow, 

 and of all possible shapes and sizes. A well known garden annual, cultivated 

 for its stimulating fruit Stem 12 ft high. All summer. 



7. SOLANUM. 



Calyx mostly 5-parted, spreading, persistent. Corolla usually 

 rotate ; tube very short ; limb mostly 5-cleft, plaited in the bud, 

 its thin edges rolled in. Stamens exsert, converging around the 

 style. Filaments very short. Anthers opening at top by 2 pores. 

 Berry usually 2-celled. 



1. S. Dulcamara. 



Bitter-sweet. 



Stem shrubby towards the base, climbing, more or less smooth ; leaves 

 >vat-cordate, upper ones hastate, frequently auricled at base ; flowers in corym- 



bose clusters, mostly opposite the leaves ; corolla dull purple, the segments re- 

 flexed, with 2 green spots atbaso; berries oval, scarlet, poisonous. A shrubbyi 

 climbing plant, common in moist thickets, especially distinguished by Its showy 

 clusters of scarlet berries. Stem 46 ft long. July. Per. 



2. S. nigrum. 



Nightshade. 



Smooth, herbaceous ; stem very branching, with rough angles : leaves ovate, 

 toothed und undulate ; flowers small, white, in drooping, lateral umbels ; an- 

 thers yellow ; berry globular, black. A low, mean- looking weed, usually con- 

 sidered poisonous. Common in waste grounds. July Aug. An. 



3. S. tubertteum. Potato. 



Rhizoma producing tubers ; stem ascending, herbaceous, nearly simple, with 

 winged angles; leaves interruptedly pinnate ; alternate leaflets much the small 

 est, all entire ; flowers dull-white, sometimes purplish, nodding, in terminal 

 umbels, pedicellate. One of the most useful of cultivated plants. The tubers 

 furnish a large proportion of the food of man in those districts where it is cul- 

 tivated. It sports into numberless varieties, differing in color, shape and qua- 

 lity. June July. Per. 



4. S. pseudo- Capsicum. Jerusalem Cherry. 



Evergreen ; stem shrubby, branching above ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, dark 

 green, smooth and shining ; flowers solitary, opposite the leaves, nodding ; co- 

 rolla white ; anthers orange; berries globose, scarlet, as large as small cherries. 

 An evergreen shrub, sometimes cultivated. Stem 24 ft high. 



5. S. Melong^na. 



Egg-plant. 



Stem prickly, herbaceous, branching; leaves ovate, downy, prickly; flowers 

 small, whitish ; fruit large, ovate, varying from 2' 8' In length, smooth, glossy, 

 purple. A coarse, prickly plant, 2 3 ft high, cultivated for its edible fruit 

 A variety with smaller, white fruit is sometimes cultivated. July Sep An. 



8. LYCOPER9ICUM. 



Calyx mostly 5-parted, persistent. Corolla rotate ; tube very 

 short ; limb mostly 5-lobed, plicate. Anthers converging, opening 

 at top by 2 pores. Berry 3 6-celled, often torose. An. 



1. L. esculentum. Tomato. 



Hairy; stem herbaceous ; leaves unequally pinnatifld; segments incised, 

 glaucous beneath ; peduncles bearing clusters of greenish-yellow flowers ; fruit 

 torulose, furrowed, smooth, green at first, but bright red and juicy when ma- 

 ture. A common garden annual, cultivated for its abundant, juicy fruit It is 

 a large coarse-looking plant, with a disagreeable odor, generally reclining on 

 other plants for support. Stem 35 ft long. There are varieties having the 

 fruit yellow, and globose, or pear-shaped. All summer. 



9. ATROPA. 



tant. 



Calyx persistent, 5-cleft. Corolla campanulate. 

 t. Berry globose, sitting on the calyx, 2-celled. 



1. A. Belladonna. Deadly Nightshade. 



Stamens dis- 

 An, 



Smooth, herbaceous; stem branching below; leaves large, ovate, entire; 

 flowers dull, lurid purple ; berries large, green at first, black when mature, full 

 of purple juice ; stem 4 ft high. A very poisonous plant, suspicions in appear- 

 ance, but without the offensive odor which marks so many of the poisonous 

 plants of this order. Gardens. July Aug. 



10. LYCITJM. 



Calyx 2 5-cleft, short. Corolla tubular, limb mostly 5-lobed, 

 spreading. Stamens 4 5. Filaments bearded, closing the throat 

 of the corolla. Berry 2-celled. Seeds several, reniform. 



1. L. Barbarum. Barbary Vine. 



Shrubby ; stem branching ; branches long, pendulous, ending in a spiny 

 point, often furnished with axillary spines; leaves lanceolate, often in clusters, 

 smooth, acute or obtuse, tapering to a petiole; flowers axillary, solitary or in 

 pairs, greenish-purple; calyx mostly 3-cleft ; berries orange-red. A shrubby 

 vine, frequent in cultivation Its long, hanging branches form thick masses 

 on trellises and walls. July. 



ORDER LXXXVII. Gentiariacese. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 



1. GENTIANA. Corolla tubular at base, 45 cleft, open or closed at apex, tin 

 lobes either with folds between, or fringed at apex. Leaves green. 



2. BARTdsiA. Corolla somewhat campanulate, consisting of 4 nearly dis- 

 tinct segments. Yellowish herbs destitute of green foliage. 



