DICOTYLEDONS: SYMPETAL.E 



305 



a small related family. A very general feature of the 

 nightshades is their rank-scented foliage, the leaves and 



Fio. 291. Branch of thorn-apple (Nightshade Family), showing flowers and 

 fruit. After BA.ILLON. 



fruits of some of them being very poisonous. Among 

 the familiar plants are capsicum (red pepper), ground 

 cherry, belladonna, matri- 

 mony vine, henbane, petu- 

 nia, and thorn-apple (jim- 

 son-weed) (Figs. 291 and 

 292); while the three fol- 

 lowing are of great com- 

 mercial importance: 



Potato. -^This most com- 

 mon of all vegetables is 

 often called Irish potato, 

 because of its general use 

 in Ireland; but it is a na- 

 tive of the mountainous 

 region of America from southern Colorado to Chili. Like 

 corn (maize), potatoes were found in cultivation by natives 



FIG. 292. Thorn-apple 

 (Nightshade Family) : 

 A, longitudinal section 

 of flower; B, dehiscence 

 of the fruit (bur). Af- 

 ter BAILLON. 



