Solanai - SOLAN \. I 



bryo, and didynan b stamens li do - n..i, how 



latter as a flstinct Order, but il 



condition ol Figworts, which are in fact noi 



Any 0,- Nigjitahadea are the equival. „t, in 

 among Bignonial* : and these two Allia. 

 "'" «««•«" yiestion, although, in a lineal an 

 ether. It i« quite certain, I think, tfa 

 Figworts exists, for the curved embryo of tl 



stances, u inot at all to be depended uj , I 



very uearh awed species. Thus in I 



and twisted embryo ol Nightehades ; but in Pel 



be externadyfotmguiahed from se of the latter, not even »| 



"I""! '" ■"■ •'"' &* microscope, the embryo is p. 



Salpiglossisstramineathe embryo is curved and 



ten ithe genus agrees with Figworts: finally, u 



doubt beings genuu* species ol Nightshade, Uie embryo 



rore are obliged to conclude that a false importance I. 



taint? has to a great many other microscopic characters ; a truth 



''"V"'"", 1 ''-" 1 ' '•";• ' ''" •""• however, conceive tliat I 



ought really to stand m the same Alliance, because .1, latt. r hai 



to lose toe mcarpellary structure of the former.as i , in \ 



and in the many-celled Lycopersicons and Nicotianas. No nich l 

 bignonial Alliance. 



The most immediate affinity of Nightshades seems to be with 

 "reeds, to the latter ol which their numerous twining - 

 the Bret division of the Order stands on the very threshol 

 instance, Synnga and Cestrum. At the same time Bevi .-.,1 , 

 fremelywell marked. That of Figworts has already been men) 

 approached by rrechonastes, whose stamens an Bcarcely epi] 

 bcnlechtendahl, is considered bytliat author to be a transition beti 

 Borageworte. He, however, regards its affinity to Lycium undoubted, 

 ■to near relation to Nolana. (See L . 71 >. Mr u 



,| '" ,IV "'"'" Nightahades in the small number of it Is. / 



lanads are also close to Grabowskya, and would very well stand u 

 il thru- tnnt were not nncamentaceous. 



Natives of most parts of the world without the arctic and antai 

 within the tropics, in which the mass of the Order exists, in t> 

 Solanum and Physalis. The number of Bpecies of the I 

 tropical America, and the whole amount to twice 



At first sight thia Order seems to offer an exception to dial 

 mi Btructure and sensible qualities which is so charact i 



Orders, taining as it does the deadly Nightshade and II 



Potato and Tomato ; bnt a little inquiry will explain t! 

 leaves and berries of the Potato are narcotic; it is only il 

 when cooked. This i- the case with other succulent tin* 

 dangerous families, as the Cassava among Spurgeworts ; I 

 justly observes -II ne faut pas perdre de vue que tous nos a 

 petite dose d*un principe excitant, qui, b'U y etait en plus 



nuisible, maisquiy est necessaire pour leur servir 

 leaves ol all air in tart narcotic and exciting, but in dil 

 Belladonna, which causes vertigo, convulsions, and vomil 

 qnently produce the first and last ol these Bymptoms, H 

 bo some Solanums, the leaves of which are ua I as kitchi n i 

 may be classed according as the; are, I. narcotic or ■■•■' 

 B, diuretic; I, pungent ; 5, bland or inert I. \b to 

 these is perhaps the Acocanthera venenata, a larp, 

 at the Cape of Good Hope ; a decoction of tin 

 is used !>\ the Hottentots to envenom their weapons. Il 

 ami to be also used by the same people t- d< stroj wil i 

 flesh with its juice. Similar qualities have I 

 phyllum and nocturnum. Others, howevi r, 

 regarded as inferior in virulence. The Thorn-ai>| 

 narcotic when taken internally ; in skilful ha 

 epilepsy, convulsions, tic-douloureux, &c ; it | 

 spasmodic asthma, when smoked. Datur i 

 latter is used by Orientals as an opial . 



X 



