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EGG PLANT, on VEGETABLE EGG. 

 — MELONGENA. 



Natural order, Luridce. A genus of the 

 Pentandria Monogynia class. 



This plant is a species of Solatium, or 

 night-shade, of which there are at least 

 sixty-six species. It is a native of the East 

 Indies, and has acquired its present English 

 name from the shape and appearance of its 

 fruit, which is attached to the stem, and set 

 in a cornered cup similar to the berry of 

 the potatoe ; those that are white, perfectly 

 resemble an egg, from the size of that of a 

 pigeon to a swan's. Some of the varieties 

 bear fruit of a purple or violet colour, others 

 variegated. These vegetable eggs have one 

 cell filled with compressed roundish seeds. 



They were formerly called Mala insana, 

 viz. mad or raging apples, from the resem- 

 blance they were supposed to bear to the 

 male mandrake of Theophrastus, which is 

 stated to have caused madness; whereas, in 

 reality, they cause no ill, nor excite any syr.ip- 



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