508 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Solanum Commersonii, Dunal. 



La Plata-States, in rocky arid situations at a low level. Also a 

 Potato- Solanum. Great hopes are entertained of this species as a 

 new sort of potato. S. Ohrudi and S. collinum are varieties accord- 

 ing to Mr. Baker. 



Solanum Dulcamara, Linn6. 



Europe, Northern Africa, Middle Asia, indigenous in Norway to 

 lat. 63 32'. A trailing half-shrub, with deciduous leaves. The 

 stems are used in medicine, and contain two alkaloids : dulcamarin 

 and solanin. Concerning these ample information is given by Huse- 

 mann and Hilger in their large work " Pflanzenstoffe " (1884). 



Solanum edule, Schumacher and Thonning. 



Guinea. The berry is of the size of an apple, yellow and edible. 

 Has borne well at Port Jackson, where the fruit is esteemed as a 

 culinary vegetable [Fred. Turner], 



Solanum Gilo, Raddi. 



Tropical America ; much cultivated there for the sake of its large' 

 spherical, orange-coloured berries, which are edible. 



Solanum Guineense, Lamarck. 



Within the tropics of both hemispheres. The berries of this shrub 

 serve as a dye of various shades, particularly violet, for silk. 



Solanum indigoferum, St. Hilaire. 



Southern Brazil. A dye-shrub, deserving trial-culture. 



Solanum Jamesii, Torrey. 



Mountains of the South-Western States of North- America and of 

 Mexico. A potato-bearing species, with small tubers, which however 

 continued cultural care may improve. See Mr. J. G. Baker's review 

 of the tuber-bearing species of Solanum in the "Journal of the Linnean 

 Society," 1884. 



Solanum Lycopersicum, Linne".* (Lycopersicum esculentum, Miller.) 



The Tomato. South- America, particularly Peru. Annual. 

 Several varieties exist, differing in size, shape, and colour of the 

 berries. It is one of the most eligible plants with esculent fruits for 

 naturalisation in desert-countries. As well known, the tomato is 

 adapted for various culinary purposes. Bears well even in the hot 

 deserts of Central Australia [Rev. H. Kempe]. Seeds kept in a dry 

 and cool place will retain their vitality for four or even six years 

 [Vilmorin]. Mammoth-Tomatoes are grown at Milwaukee up 

 to the weight of 3 Ibs. ["Meehan's Monthly," April, 1895]. 



