RECREATIVE NATURAL HISTORY. 



root, too, has been much used ia the treatment of the diseases 

 of i-.ittle. Next to this we have a true nightshade, ,s 

 niyrum (black or common garden nightshade), which is often 

 r.uiiul growing on the waste lands and in tlio rural distrain of 

 Kn(,'l:ui(l. Few persona who notice wild 

 plant* will have foiled to see it. The 

 arc nit in-, and covered with fine 

 hairH. The flowers are white, the fruit 

 almost black, and the stalk easily 

 broken. Wo are not aware of any use 

 to which this plant has been applied. 

 11. nhane, or hogbano (Hyoscyamus 

 niijer), is another true Solatium, and 

 is found in many parts of England ; it 

 grows to about two feet in height, and is 

 covered with fine bristles or hairs, vhich 

 give off a foetid odour. The tickers, 

 which are arranged in a double row 

 on the stem, are most peculiar, being 

 of a rich chocolate-yellow tinged with 

 brown, and veined with a perfect 



nean Ports, much resemble these in growth ami qualities, and 

 are extensively used in cookery. The Mandrake or May apple 

 igora) is a Solanum which ha* from very early periods 

 of history been regarded with much superstitions dread, which 

 has probably arisen, partly from iU 

 poisonous properties, and partly from 

 iU largo and irregularly-shaped root*, 

 which at times grow in the uncouth 

 torn of a man. Shakespeare writes 

 " And shrieks like msndrsks torn oat of 



the earth, 



That Wring mortals heariac them run 

 mad." 



The notion that prevailed in by- 

 gone days regarding the sounds of 

 complaint ottered by the mandrake 

 when being rooted op appears to have 

 been widely entertained by the igno- 

 rant. Misfortune of the most serious 

 kind was believed to be the portion 

 of any one bold or rash enough to 



Pig. 3 





network of purple lines. A dark rich 

 purple centre or eye serves to com- 

 plete a flower which, when once seen, 

 would not be readily forgotten. Tho 

 seed-capsules, which also stand in 

 a double row, are each capped with a 

 sort of capsulor lid, to lift which the 

 aid of a knife ia required. The seeds 

 usually escape through perforations 

 made by insects. All parts of tho 

 plant are poisonous. The extract is 

 extensively used in medicine. Linnaeus 

 states that the roots, when cut up and 

 thrown about the floors of a house, 

 will cause all mice to at once deport. 



The tomato or love-apple (Solanum 

 lycopersicum), although not indigenous 

 to England, is so well known as a 

 culinary vegetable that it could by 



no possibility be mistaken for anything else. The Egg-plant, 

 Jew's apple, or Mad apple (Solanum melongence), is also an 

 exotic, but is used by Continental cooks ns an ingredient in soups, 

 toshes, etc. "Bringolls," a common vegetable of the Mediterra- 



engage in disturbing the mandrake in 

 its earth-bed. An old proverb says 

 " He who gathercth the mandrake shall 



die, 



Blood for blood is his destenie." 

 Notwithstanding this terrible threat, 

 mandrakes have been from time to 

 time dug up for medicinal purpose* 

 by herb collectors and others, with- 

 out any very remarkable events 

 following the audacity of the dig- 

 gers. Fig. 4 shows the leaf, flower, 

 and curious root of this plant. Tho 

 Mandrake of Scripture was probably 

 a plant of a very different descrip- 

 tion, but we are unable to say to 

 what family it belonged. It is not our 

 intention here to dwell on the various 

 members of the Solanum group to 

 be found in distant countries. Over 

 400 species have been already enume- 

 rated by botanists. It is oar object 

 to deal more particularly with plants 

 and flowers of the nightshade family 

 which may, perchance, come under the immediate observation 

 of our readers at home. Tho plant- world, even in our little island 

 home, is a tolerably large one, and we hope in a future paper to 

 pay another visit to it, with our readers as pleasant companions* 



