150 COLONSAY 



(Lus-na-Dibh-M6r, I.), Henbane (Caothach-nan-Cearc), 

 Thorn-apple have very poisonous properties. The "Tea 

 Plant," a straggling shrub, is recommended for situations 

 exposed to the sea-breezes. 



Solanum, L. 



A numerous genus, particularly abundant in South America, 

 S. tuberosum (the Potato) is a native of Chili and Peru, 

 where it is found growing on sterile mountains and in damp 

 forests near the sea. According to some it was introduced 

 to this country by Sir Walter Ealeigh (from Virginia, in 

 1586) ; in the opinion of others, by Sir Francis Drake. The 

 numerous excellent varieties now in cultivation have sprung 

 from a few comparatively worthless wild species. At the 

 Franco-British Exhibition in London (1908) no less than 

 300 selected kinds (named) were exhibited by Messrs Sutton 

 & Sons. The same firm showed a number of wild types at 

 the R.H.S. Temple ShoAv in May 1907. 



S. Dulcamara, L. Bittersweet. Fuath-gorm, C. Burn- 

 side, Kiloran, and gullies, Kiloran Bay. Per., July. The 

 berries are bitter and poisonous. The root and stem have 

 a bitter taste followed by a degree of sweetness, hence the 

 common English name. A decoction of the plant is said to- 

 be good for internal injuries. 



SCROPHULARIACEJS (the Scrophularia family) 



One of the most largely represented of British orders, 

 remarkable for many beautiful flowering species. They 

 are generally acrid or bitter, and sometimes, as in the 

 Foxglove, poisonous, representatives of exotic (Calceolaria, 

 Pentstemon, Mimulus, etc.) and native genera (Speedwell, 

 Toadflax, Mullein, Snapdragon, etc.) are old favourites. 

 Some kinds Lousewort, Yellow Rattle, Eyebright, and 

 Cow-wheat are semi-parasitical. 



