LEADING FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 365 



Many of the genera are actively poisonous, and even in the 

 case of edible species, like the potato, the foliage and other 

 green parts often have an. offensive smell and may be poisonous. 



FIG. 300. Jimson weed (Datura) 



A highly poisonous, ill-scented weed of the Nightshade family, common in barn- 

 yards and other waste ground. A, part of a flowering shoot; B, pod; C, cross 

 section of pod. One half natural size 



336. Three important plants of the Nightshade family. 

 Three solanaceous plants of much commercial importance are 

 the potato, the tomato, and tobacco. The potato (^Solanum 

 tuberosum) was probably introduced into cultivation from 

 Peru. Its tubers have long formed a considerable part of 



