COEOLLIFLOK.I:. 317 



others are only partially or not at all so. The berries as well as the foliage 

 of Atropa, for example, and the seeds and capsules as well as the foliage of 

 Hyoscyamus, are very deadly ; but the succulent fruits of many species of 

 Solatium are wholesome, as the Egg- Apple or Aubergine (8. Melongend), 

 those of 8. ladniatum, eaten in Australia under the name of Kangaroo 

 Apples, &c., and, it is said (but this wants confirmation), those of the 

 S. nigrum. Dulcamara, and others. Lycopersicum esculentum, the Tomato, 

 is another example. Still more striking appears the instance of the 

 Potato, at first sight ; but it must be remembered that the edible tuber is 

 an artificial product, and consists chiefly of cellular tissue and starch deve- 

 loped under circumstances that oppose the formation of the noxious secre- 

 tion ; and what is present may be dissipated by heat. It is said that the 

 poisonous element of Solanaceous fruits exists in a pulpy covering of the 

 seeds, not in the pericarp. It is desirable that this point should be ascer- 

 tained. 



COKDIACEJE constitute an Order, chiefly consisting of tropical plants, 

 combined with Boraginaceae by Bentham and Hooker, from which, how- 

 ever, they differ in the twisted aestivation of the corolla and the plaited 

 cotyledons. From Convolvulacese they differ in their superior radicle and 

 the absence of perisperm. The Order is remarkable for the plaited cotyle- 

 dons of the embryo. The fruits of Cordia Myxa and latifolia are called 

 Sebestens or Sebesten plums, and, with those of other species, are edible. 



NOLANACE^E are a small group of South-American plants, referred by 

 Bentham and Hooker to Convolvulaceae, by others to Boraginaceae, some- 

 times erected into a distinct Order on account of the valvate calyx, plaited 

 regular corolla, the ovary of 5-20 carpels, either distinct, or when nume- 

 rous combined into several sets, seated on a fleshy disk, with a single style 

 and stigma ; the embryo curved, in little perisperm. The chief distinction 

 from Boraginacese lies in the 5-merous ovary and the absence of the scroll- 

 like inflorescence ; they may be regarded as aberrant forms of that Order. 

 Some species of Nolana are cultivated in gardens for their showy flowers, 

 somewhat resembling blue Convolvuli. Their properties are unknown. 

 Genera : Nolana, L. ; Alona, Lindl. 



BOEAGINACE^E. THE BUGLOSS ORDER. 



Coh. Polemoniales, Benth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Chiefly roughly hairy herbs (not aromatic), with 

 alternate entire leaves, a scorpioid inflorescence ^. .. 

 usually without bracts, and symmetrical flowers 

 with a 5-parted calyx, an hypogynous, regular 

 (rarely slightly irregular) 5-1 obed corolla, 5 stamens 

 springing from the corolla-tube ; ovary of two 

 carpels, each deeply 4-lobed, the lobes surround- 

 ing the base of the single gvnobasic style, and ,, 



P b . . . & . & -, , . ' , Persistent calyx of a 



forming when ripe 4 mdehiscent 1- seeded Boraginaceoua plant, 



achenesin the bottom of the persistent calyx; fSlormecfT four 



stigina simple or bifid ; seeds separable from indehiscent carpels. 



the pericarp, aperispermic ; radicle superior. 3E ting from each 



