NIGHTSHADE FAMILY. 313 



1. LYCOFERSICUM, TOMATO, LOVE APPLE. (Greek: wolf 



peach.) 



L. esculentum, Mill. TOMATO. Cult, from trop. Amer.; includes mani- 

 fold varieties and forms ; hairy, rank-scented ; leaves interruptedly pin- 

 nate, larger leaflets cut or pinnatiM, ovate or ovate-oblong and pointed ; 

 flower clusters short and forked ; flowers yellowish, by cultivation having 

 their parts often increased in number, the esculent red or yellow berry 

 becoming several-celled. The little improved types, like the Cherry 

 Tomato (var. CERASIFORME) have 2-celled fruits, a weaker habit and 

 smaller leaves than the larger-fruited sorts. 



L. pimpinellifdlium, Dunal. CURRANT T. Weaker and nearly smooth, 

 the leaflets small and thin and nearly or quite obtuse ; fruit the size of 

 large currants, in long 2-sided racemes. Sparingly cult., mostly as a 

 curiosity. Peru. (J) 



2. SOL ANUM, NIGHTSHADE, etc. (Derivation uncertain.) Flowers 

 mostly in corymb- or raceme-like clusters, in summer. 



* Plants not at all prickly / anthers blunt. 

 1- Climbing or twining perennials. 



S. Dulcamara, Linn. BITTERSWEET. Nat. from Eu., in moist cult, 

 and waste grounds ; smoothish, with tall stems woody at base and dis- 

 posed to climb, ovate and heart-shaped leaves, some oi the upper ones 

 halberd-3-lobed, or with one or two pairs of smaller leaflets or lobes at 

 base ; corolla violet-purple with a pair of greenish spots on the base of 

 each lobe, and oval red berries. ^ (Lessons, Fig. 252.) 



S. jasminoldes, Faxt. Woody -stemmed house plant from Brazil, tall- 

 climbing by its petioles, very smooth, with oblong ovate or slightly 

 heart-shaped, entire leaves, or some of them divided into 3 leaflets, anil 

 clusters of white or bluish flowers. 2Z (Lessons, Fig. 172.) 



<- - Erect shrubs, of house culture. 



S. Pseddo-Cdpsicum, Linn. JERUSALEM CHERRY. Shrubby house 

 plant from Madeira, cult, for the ornamental bright red berries, resem- 

 bling cherries ; smooth, with lance-oblong entire leaves and small white 

 flowers in solitary peduncles or small lateral clusters. 



5- Capsicdstrum, Link. Fruit scarlet, the size of a filbert ; flowers 

 white, in short racemes nearly opposite the leaves, the latter twin, one 

 much smaller than the other, entire or repand, oblong-lanceolate or lance- 

 obovate. There is a form with variegated leaves. Brazil. 



._ H_ ^_ Erect herbs, annuals or cult, as annuals. 



S. nigrum, Linn. BLACK or COMMON NIGHTSHADE. Low weed of 

 shady grounds ; much branched, nearly smooth, with ovate wavy-toothed 

 or sinuate leaves, veiy small white flowers, and globular black berries, 

 said to be poisonous. 



S. tuberosu/n, Linn. POTATO. Cult, from Chile for the esculent 

 tubers, and native as far N. as S. Col.; leaves pinnate, of several ovate 

 leaflets and some minute ones intermixed ; flowers blue or white ; berries 

 round, green. 2Z (Lessons, Figs. 102, 253.) 



S. muricatum, Ait. PEPINO, MELON SHRUB, etc. Branching and 

 bushy ; stems and oblong-lanceolate entire leaves lightly hairy ; flowers 

 sky-blue, in terminal fascicles ; fruit egg-shaped, 3'-4' long and pointed, 

 at maturity yellow overlaid with streaks of violet-purple, the flesh edible, 

 with the flavor of a muskmelon. Subshrub in trop. Amer., where it is 

 native, but treated as an herb in cultivation. 



