128 PEXTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



equally pseudo pinnate, in many species growing" by pairs; 

 peduncles solitary or several, one or many-flowered, above 

 the axill, scattered or terminal. Pubescence stellate. 



Species. 1 S. riignun, variety virifmicum. 2. Dulca- 

 mara. Becoming nauiralized. 3. mammosnm. 4. virginia- 

 mim. 5. caroIincTise. 6. *triJlonnn. Stem unarmed, herbace- 

 ous and procumbent; leaves dentately-])innatifid, smooth, 

 segments acute, somewhat undulated, wiih the margin 

 more or less revolute; peduncles opposite the leaves, 2 

 or 3-flowered. — Flowers small and white, revolute; fruit 

 about the size of a cherry, green Avhen ripe. Stem a lit- 

 tie hirsute, spreading and procumbent, about a foot long; 

 leaves somewhat runcinate. This species, though very 

 distinct, appears to have some affinity with the .S". rmicina- 

 turn of Peru and Chili. — Hab. As a tveed in and about the 

 gardens of the Mandans and Minitarees, and in no other 

 situations. Near Fort Mandan. Flowering from June to 

 August. 



Of this last genus there are now no less than 140 spe- 

 eies described, besides what have been recently added 

 fiom New Holland and other places. Some of the species 

 have become highly important in human economy, sticii 

 are the Potatoe (6*. tuberosum) introduced into Europe 

 from the mountainous parts of Peru in the year 1590, ac- 

 cording to Bauhin; the Melongena sometimes called egg- 

 plant {S. Melongena) of Asia, Africa, and America, cul- 

 tivs.ted for food in the warmer parts of the continent of 

 Europe, as well as in the United States; the Tomatoe {S. 

 J^ycopersiann) of India and the warmer parts of America, 

 its iruit affording an agreeable and uell known condiment; 

 to these we may add the S. anguhi of Madagascar, fur- 

 nishing also an esculent truit; the ^S*. scabrum of Peru 

 producing a fruit like an orange, answering the purpose 

 of a saponaceous abstergent for washing; with the P. 

 Pseudo- capsicum of Madeira every one is familiar, an 

 elegant shrub cultivated for the appearance of its fruit, 

 resembling scarlet cherries. 



In its geographical distribution the genus Solaiiiim is 

 principally confined to the tropical parts of America, and 

 no where more abundant than in Peru and Mexico; there 

 are also a few species in India and Africa, but in Ameri- 

 ca there are no less than 100. With the exception then 

 of S. Dulcamara and S. nigrum this genus is principally 

 indigenous to the Nvarmer parts of America, extending also 

 into Asia and Africa; the *S'. nigrum is found apparently 

 spontaneous in every part of tiie world, in North Vmerica 

 it exists westward to the souices of the Missouri. The 

 ,S. J)tilcaniara is now also becoming naturalized in the 



