FLORA OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 247 



136. SOIANAOEAE. Nightshade Family. 



The following species are commonly cultivated: The tomato, Lycopersicon esculen- 

 tum Mill., the potato. Solarium tabcrosum L., the eggplant, S. melongena L., 

 Jerusalem cherry, S. pseudo-capsicum L., and petunias, Petunia axillaris (Lam.) 

 B. S. P., with white flowers, and P. violacea Lindl., with violet-purple flowers. They 

 may occasionally be found around refuse heaps, but seldom persist. 



Plantsshrubby 1. LYCIXJM. 



Plants herbaceous (Solanum dulcamara shrubby below, the flowering stems her- 

 baceous). 

 Fruit inclosed in an inflated calyx. 



Calyx split to the base; flowers purple or blue 2. PHYSALODES. 



Calyx not split, merely toothed; flowers yellow, usually with purple centers. 



3. PHYSALIS. 

 Fruit not inclosed in an inflated calyx. Flowers white, blue, or purple. 

 Corolla funnel-shaped, more than 3 cm. long; fruit a spiny capsule . .4. DATURA. 

 Corolla saucer-shaped; fruit a berry 5. SOLANUM. 



1. LYCIUM L. 



1. Lycium halimifolium Mill. Matrimony vine. 



Fields and waste places; common. May-Aug. Native of Eur.; escaped from culti- 

 vation in the U. S. {L. vulgare Dunal.) 



2. PHYSALODES Boehm. 



1. Physalodes peruvianum Kuntze. Apple of Peru. 



Waste ground near dwellings; uncommon. July-Sept. Eastern U. S.; introduced 

 from tropical Amer. (Nicandra physalodes Pers.; P. physalodes Britton.) 



3. PHYSALIS L. Ground cherry. 

 Plants annual. 



Fruiting peduncles over 2 cm. long; leaves glandular-pubescent, especially along 



the veins 1. P. pubescens. 



Fruiting peduncles less than 2 cm. long; leaves glabrous or nearly so. .2. P. ixocarpa. 

 Plants perennial. 



Leaves 1.5-2.2 times as long as broad, tapering at both ends 3. P. virginiana. 



Leaves 1.2-1.5 times as long as broad, cordate at the base 4. P. heterophylla. 



1. Physalis pubescens L. 



Sandy soil; not very abundant. July-Sept. Southern states, north to Pa. 



2. Physalis ixocarpa Brot. 



Waste ground, usually escaped from cultivation; not very common. Sept.-Oct. 

 Native of Mex. (P. pubescens of Ward's Flora.) 



3. Physalis virginiana Mill. 



Open places; not very common. July-Sept. Eastern U. S. 



4. Physalis heterophylla Nees. 



Sandy or rich soil; common. July-Oct. Eastern U. S. (P. viscosa of Ward's 



Flora.) 



4. DATURA L. 



1. Datura stramonium L. Jimson-weed. 



Waste places and open fields; common. June-Sept. Eastern U. S. and tropical 

 Amer. 



There are two forms, one with white flowers and green stems, which is the original 

 D. stramonium, and one with purple flowers and purple stems which has been called 

 D. tatula L. Both have a very disagreeable odor, especially when crushed. Jimson 

 is a contraction of Jamestown. Thorn-apple is another common name for plants of 

 this genus. 



