SOLANACE^;. 



the leaves or terminal, drooping, spreading, smooth, alternately sub- 

 divided, and resembling cymes, though not really such. Bracteas 

 minute. Flowers elegant, purple, with 2 round green spots at the base 

 of each segment ; they are reported to vary occasionally to white or 

 flesh colour, the spots being also sometimes white. Berries oval, 

 scarlet, juicy, bitter and poisonous. The root and young branches, in 

 the form of a decoction, much diluted with milk, have been recom- 

 mended in scrophulous or glandular obstructions. Smith. The plant is a 

 dangerous narcotic, and its gay tempting berries have occasionally 

 caused serious accidents among children and others who have eaten 

 them. In medicine the plant has been considered serviceable both 

 internally, and used as a wash in lepra, psoriasis, and other cutaneous 

 disorders. It is diaphoretic, and is said to have been advantageously 

 exhibited in asthma. 



1076. S. Jacquini Willd. is considered by the native practi- 

 tioners in India as an expectorant. 



1077. S. bahamense Linn. Its juice is administered in the 

 West Indies in cases of sore throat, in the form of a gargle. 



1078. S. mammosum Linn, is said to be bitter and a valuable 

 diuretic. 



1079. S. paniculatum Linn. sp. 267. Dunal. solan, p. 206. 

 R. and S. iv. 637. Brazil. 



A shrub. Stem and leafstalks covered with white fur, and armed 

 with straight, scattered, naked prickles. Leaves broad, cordate, deeply 

 sinuated, angular, rather acute, unarmed, smooth on the upper side. 

 Flowers in compound, terminal, unarmed, tomentose panicles. Flowers 

 bluish white. This plant is called Juripeba in Brazil, where the juice of 

 the bruised leaves and unripe fruit is much esteemed, as a powerful remedy 

 in obstructions of the bowels, especially of the liver, and in catarrhus 

 vesica3. Several other kinds of Solanum are used in similar diseases. 

 When applied fresh, they generally act very favourably in cleansing and 

 healing wounds and ulcers. Martins. 



1080. S. cernuum Vellozo MSS. Brazil. 



Apparently a tree. Branches stout, round, covered over with a 

 remarkably coarse, ramentaceous hairiness. Leaves unarmed, oblong, 

 entire, repand, tapering a little to the base, smooth above, closely 

 covered with white tomentum on the under side, where it is coarsely 

 veined; petioles ramentaceous. Flowers in dense cernuous clustersj 

 with the pedicels and calyxes covered all over with a long loose shaggy 

 coating of the same coarse ramentaceous hairs as those of the stem. 

 A very remarkable plant, of which I possess a specimen marked 

 " S. cernuum Vellozii," by Von Martius himself: it is not very uncom- 

 mon in collections of dried plants from the vicinity of Rio Janeiro. 

 We are told that a decoction of the flowers and leaves is a powerful 

 sudorific, and is very serviceable in syphilis, inveterate gonorrhoea 

 and similar complaints. Martius Travels. 



*#* A spinose species of Solanum called JBurabara, is reported in 

 Demerara to be an antidote to the bite of the rattle-snake. 



512 



