BITTER-SWEET. 77 



halbert-shaped. The flowers are disposed in elegant, pendulous, 

 cyniose racemes, opposite the upper leaves or terminal. The 

 calyx is small, and divided into five obtuse segments. The 

 corolla is wheel-shaped, divided into five reflexed, equal, acute 

 segments of a reddish purple colour, with two whitish green 

 tubercles at the base of each. The stamens are five, terminated 

 by large yellow anthers united into a cone-shaped figure. The 

 germen is roundish, supporting a thread-shaped style, longer 

 than the stamens, and terminated by an obtuse stigma. The 

 fruit is a smooth, oval berry, of a scarlet colour, containing 

 numerous seeds, attached to a fleshy receptacle. Plate 7, fig. 3. 

 {a) calyx, stamens, and pistil; (6) corolla laid open; (c) a 

 single stamen, showing the mode in which the pollen is dis- 

 charged from the apertures at the top of the anther ; {d) the 

 pistil ; (e) the fruit cut longitudinally to show the position of 

 the seeds. 



This plant occurs in moist hedges and thickets throughout 

 the greater part of Europe. It is found in similar situations in 

 this country, embellishing the sturdy shrubs round which it 

 climbs for support, with its elegant flowers and brilliant fruit. 

 It continues in flower from June to August. 



The etymology of the term Solanum is involved in some ob- 

 scurity; some have derived it from solari, to comfort, but the 

 application of this is far from satisfactory. The present species 

 is called Dulcamara from dulc'ts, sweet, and amara, bitter, be- 

 cause of its bitter, and subsequently sweet taste in the mouth. 



Qualities. — The root and stem of the woody Nightshade, 

 when bruised, diffuse a nauseous odour, and whether fresh or 

 dried, invariably possess the union of properties to which the 

 plant owes its trivial name. The recent leaves are said to ex- 

 hale occasionally a slight musky smell, but when dried they are 

 quite inodorous. M. Guersent thinks that the saccharine prin- 

 ciple resides in the ligneous part, and the bitter principle in the 

 cortical part of the old stems. Water extracts the virtues of the 

 plant better than alcohol. An aqueous infusion from one 

 ounce of the twigs, afforded, according to Hartmann and Kuhn, 

 five drachms and thirty-five grains of extract, while the spiri- 

 tuous tincture from alike quantity gave only two drachms and a 

 half*. 



• Murray, Apparatus Med. Vol. I. p. GO.O. 



