LXXIYI. SOLA^ACEiE. 257 



Fruit a many- or few-seeded capsule. 



Calyx deciduous, tubular ; capsule thorny, 4-celled . 6. Datuea. 

 Calyx persistent. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-fid ; corolla funnel-shaped ; cap- 

 sule 2-celled, many-seeded 7. NiCOTlANA. 



Calyx deeply 5-lobed, lobes acuminate, unequal ; 



corolla long-tubular ; capsule 2-celled, few-seeded 8. Retzia. 



1. SOLANUM, Linn. 



Caljx 5-(rarely 4 -G-10-) parted, cleft, toothed or crenate, or 

 subentire. Corolla rotate or cup-like, with a short tube, and 

 a plaited, spreading; 5-fid or -angled limb. Stamens in the 

 throat, exserted ; filaments short ; anthers free or rarely con- 

 nate, opening by terminal pores. Berry 2- (rarely 3-4-) celled, 

 many-seeded. Embryo peripheric, spiral. — DC. JProd. xiii. p. 

 27. 



A vast, chiefly tropical and subtropical genus of herbs shrubs or trees, 

 often very ornamental ; many prickly or spiny, glabrous or hairy, wnth 

 simple or stellate pubescence. Leaves penninerved or palminerved, entire 

 or variously cut or lobed. Cymes at first terminal, often becoming lateral 

 or extra-axillary by subsequent growth. — 33 Cape species ai'e described in 

 DC. Prod. ; but several, fi'om Natal and Zululand, are yet undescribed. 



2. NICANDRA, Adans. 



Calyx 5-parted, 5-angled, inflated, the angles compressed, 

 the segments sagittate. Corolla bell-shaped, with a plaited, 

 subentire, 5-angled limb. Stamens subexserted ; filaments 

 with dilated bases, connivent ; anthers ovate, splitting. Ovary 

 3-5-celled, many-ovuled ; style simple ; stigma subcapitate. 

 Fruit a 3-4-celled, dry berry, enclosed in the inflated calyx. — 

 DC. Prod. xiii. p. 438. 



N. physaloides^ Gsertn., originally from Peru, is now naturalized in most 

 warm countries, including our Eastern districts and Natal. It is a branch- 

 ing annual, with angular branches, glabrous, ovate oblong, sinuous leaves, 

 and 1-flowered, lateral peduncles. 



3. PHYSALIS, Linn. 



Calyx 5-fid or 5-toothed, vesicular after flowering. Corolla 

 rotate-bellshaped, plaited, with a 5-angled limb. Stamens in- 

 cluded ; filaments free, filiform ; anthers erect, connivent, 

 splitting. Ovary 2-celled, many-ovuled ; style simple ; stigma 

 capitate. Berry globose, 2-celled, concealed in the inflated, 

 nearly closed, 5-angled calyx. — DC. Prod. xiii.^. 434. 



Annual or perennial herbs, with entire or angle-lobed leaves, and solitary, 

 lateral flowers. P. Peruviana, "the Cape Gooseberry," is naturalized 

 throughout the colony, and P. Hermanni, Dun., occurs at Natal. 



