ORDER LXXXVII. GENTIANACEJS. 



187 



1. N. Tabacum. 



Tobacco. 



Viscid-pubescent ; stem erect, paniculate above ; leaves very long, lanceo- 

 late, sessile, decurrent ; flowers dull rose-color, rather handsome; corolla-tube 

 inflated at the throat ; lobes acute. A coarse, rank plant, with large, clammy, 

 pubescent leaves, which are often 2 ft long. Stem 4 6 ft. high. The common 

 tobacco is cultivated in Southern N. Eng., and in all the Middle, Eastern and 

 Southern States, but most abundantly in the latter. July. 



3. DATtTRA. 



Calyx tubular, ventricose, 6-angled, 5-toothed, separating 

 transversely in fruit from the persistent, orbicular base. Corolla 

 funnel-form, with a long-cylindrical tube ; limb plaited, 5-parted. 

 Stigma 2 lipped. Capsule globular, prickly, 2-celled, 2-valved. 

 Seeds large. An. 



1. D. Stramonium, Thorn Apple. 



Smooth ; stem erect, dichotomous, fleshy, hollow, sometimes spotted with 

 purple ; leaves large, ovate, irregularly dentate, almost lobed, of a dark, lurid 

 green, on long, fleshy petioles ; flowers large, 2' 3' long, dull white, often tinged 

 with dull purple, on peduncles arising from the- forks of the branches ; calyx- 

 teeth acuminate ; fruit of the size and shape of a hen's egg, covered with short, 

 sharp, tumid spines. A rank and extremely poisonous weed, common in waste 

 grounds. The odor of the flowers and of the leaves when bruised is extremely 

 offensive. Stem 13 ft. high. 



4. NICANDRA. 



Calyx 5-cleft, 5-angled ; angles compressed. Segments sagit- 

 tate, enlarged in fruit, and covering the 3 5-celled, globose berry. 

 Corolla campanulate ; border open, plaited, nearly entire. Sta- 

 mens 5, converging. An. 



1. N. physaloides. 



Apple of Peru. 



Smooth, herbaceous ; stem erect, branching ; leaves large, broad-ovate, sin- 

 uately toothed, angular; flowers axillary, terminal, solitary, pale-blue, white in 

 the centre, with 5 blue spots ; calyx closed, with the angles very acute. A coarse 

 weed-like herb, common in gardens, sometimes springing up spontaneously in 

 waste grounds. Stem 2 5 ft. high. Aug. An. 



5. PHYSALIS. 



Calyx 5-cleft, persistent, reticulated, inflated after flowering, 

 and inclosing the globular, 2-celled berry. Corolla spreading, 

 campanulate, with a very short tube ; limb obscurely 5-lobed. 

 Stamens 5, converging. An. 



1. P. viscosa. Yellow Henbane. 



Viscid-pubescent ; stem at first erect, afterward decumbent, branching, her- 

 baceous ; leaves solitary or in pairs, ovate, or lance-ovate, cordate or tapering at 

 base, repandly toothed, or entire; flowers nodding, solitary, growing just above 

 the axils ; corolla greenish-yellow, twice as long as the calyx-segments, with 5 

 brownish spots at the base inside ; fruit yellow or orange-color, inclosed in the 

 inflated, angular calyx. A very variable plant, about a foot high, common on 

 dry hills and road-sides. July Aug. 



6. CAPSICUM. 



Calyx erect, 5-parted, persistent. Corolla rotate ; tube very 

 short ; limb plaited, 5-lobed. Stamens converging. Capsule dry, 

 inflated, 2 3-celled. Seeds flat, extremely acrid. An. 



1. C annuum. Eed Pepper. 



Smooth ; stem herbaceous, angular, branching above ; leaves ovate-acumi- 

 nate, petiolate, entire ; flowers axillary, solitary, nodding ; peduncles smooth ; 

 calyx angular, with 5 short, acute lobes ; corolla white, lobes spreading, larger 

 than the calyx ; fruit oblong, or snbglobose, varying from dull red to yellow, 

 and of all possible shapes and sizes. A well known garden annual, cultivated 

 for its stimulating fruit Stem 12 ft high. All summer. 



7. 8OLANUM. 



Calyx mostly 5-parted, spreading, persistent. Corolla usually 

 rotate ; tube very short ; limb mostly 5-cleft, plaited in the bud, 

 its thin edges rolled in. Stamens exsert, converging around the 

 style. Filaments very short. Anthers opening at top by 2 pores. 

 Berry usually 2-celled. 



1. S. Dulcamara. 



Bitter-sweet. 



Stem shrubby towards the base, climbing, more or less smooth ; leaves 

 >vat-cordate, upper ones hastate, frequently auricled at base ; flowers in corym- 



bose clusters, mostly opposite the leaves ; corolla dull purple, the segments re- 

 flexed, with 2 green spots at baso ; berries oval, scarlet, poisonous. A shrubby 

 climbing plant, common in moist thickets, especially distinguished by its showy 

 clusters of scarlet berries. Stem 46 ft long. July. Per. 



2. S. nigrum. 



Night sliade. 



Smooth, herbaceous ; stem very branching, with rough angles ; leaves ovate, 

 toothed and undulate ; flowers small, white, in drooping, lateral umbels; an- 

 thers yellow; berry globular, black. A low, mean- looking weed, usually con- 

 sidered poisonous. Common in waste grounds. July Aug. An. 



3. S. tuberosum. 



Potato. 



Ehizoma producing tubers ; stem ascending, herbaceous, nearly simple, with 

 winged- angles ; leaves interruptedly pinnate ; alternate leaflets much the small- 

 est, all entire ; flowers dull-white, sometimes purplish, nodding, in terminal 

 umbels, pedicellate. One of the most useful of cultivated plants. The tubers 

 furnish a large proportion of the food of man in those districts where it is cul- 

 tivated. It sports into numberless varieties, differing in color, shape and qua- 

 lity. JuneJuly. Per. 



4. S. pseudo- Capsicum. Jerusalem Cherry. 



Evergreen ; stem shrubby, branching above ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, dark 

 green, smooth and shining ; flowers solitary, opposite the leaves, nodding ; co- 

 rolla white ; anthers orange ; berries globose, scarlet, as large as small cherries. 

 An evergreen shrub, sometimes cultivated. Stem 24 ft high. 



5. S. Melong^na. 



Egg-plant. 



Stem prickly, herbaceous, branching ; leaves ovate, downy, prickly ; flowers 

 small, whitish : fruit large, ovate, varying from 2' 8' in length, smooth, glossy, 

 purple. A coarse, prickly plant, 23 ft high, cultivated for its edible fruit 

 A variety with smaller, white fruit is sometimes cultivated. July Sep. An. 



8. LYCOPERSICUM. 



Calyx mostly 5-parted, persistent. Corolla rotate ; tube very 

 short ; limb mostly 5-lobed, plicate. Anthers converging, opening 

 at top by 2 pores. Berry 3 6-celled, often torose. An. 



1. L. esculentum. Tomato. 



Hairy ; stem herbaceous ; leaves unequally pinnatifld ; segments incised, 

 glaucous beneath ; peduncles bearing clusters of greenish-yellow flowers ; fruit 

 torulose, furrowed, smooth, green at first, but bright red and juicy when ma- 

 ture. A common garden annual, cultivated for its abundant, juicy fruit It is 

 a large coarse-looking plant, with a disagreeable odor, generally reclining on 

 other plants for support Stem 85 ft long. There are varieties having the 

 fruit yellow, and globose, or pear-shaped. All summer. 



9. ATEOPA. 



Calyx persistent, 5-cleft. Corolla campanulate. Stamens dis- 

 tant Berry globose, sitting on the calyx, 2-celled. An. 



1. A. Belladonna. Deadly Nightshade. 



Smooth, herbaceous; stem branching below; leaves large, ovate, entire; 

 flowers dull, lurid purple ; berries large, green at first, black when mature, full 

 of purple juice ; stem 4 ft high. A very poisonous plant suspicious in appear- 

 ance, but without the offensive odor which marks so many of the poisonous 

 plants of this order. Gardens. July Aug. 



10. LYCIUM. 



Calyx 2 5-cleft, short. Corolla tubular, limb mostly 5-lobed, 

 spreading. Stamens 4 5. Filaments bearded, closing the throat 

 of the corolla. Berry 2-celled. Seeds several, reniform. 



1. L. Barbarum. Earbary Vine. 



Shrubby ; stem branching ; branches long, pendulous, ending in a spiny 

 point, often furnished with axillary spines; leaves lanceolate, often in clusters, 

 smooth, acute or obtuse, tapering to a petiole ; flowers axillary, solitary or in 

 pairs, greenish-purple ; calyx mostly 8-cleft ; berries orange-red. A shrubby 

 vine, frequent in cultivation Its long, hanging branches form thick masse* 

 on trellises and walls. July. 



ORDER LXXXVII. Gentianaceae. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENEKA. 



1. GENTIANA. Corolla tubular at base, 4 5 cleft, open or closed at apex, th 

 lobes either with folds between, or fringed at apex. Leaves green. 



2. BxBTduiA. Corolla somewhat campanulate, consisting of 4 nearly dis- 

 tinct segments. Yellowish herbs destitute of green foliage. 



