413 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



SOL 



grow readily in the green-house, and make 

 showy plants, the objection to them being 

 that they are coarse. They are increased 

 readily from cuttings. Introduced in 1820. 



Sola'num. Nightshade. The derivation of this 

 word is quite uncertain ; some derive it from 

 Sol, the sun ; others say it is Sulanum, from 

 8it8, being serviceable in the disorders of 

 swine ; and others assert that it is from solor, 

 to comfort, referring to its soothing, narcotic 

 effects. Nat. Ord. Solanacece. 



This very extensive genus is composed of a 

 great number of varied forms, from that of 

 a tropical tree to the creeping, indigenous 

 weed ; it also includes plants which produce 

 valuable articles of food, as well as several 

 species whose active properties are danger- 

 ously poisonous. The most important spe- 

 cies in the genus is S. tuberosum, which is 

 described at length under its more familiar 

 name, Potato (which see). S. melongena, or 

 Egg Plant of our gardens, "Aubergine" of 

 the French, is a valued article of food in its 

 season, and the berries of several other spe- 

 cies are edible. S. Dulcamara, with oval red 

 berries, and 8. nigrum, with globular black 

 berries, are the Bittersweet and common 

 Nightshade of our hedges and roadsides, the 

 fruits of which are poisonous. Several of the 

 species are desirable for ornamental purposes. 

 8. Jasminoides is a valuable green-house 

 climber, producing, with but little trouble, 

 an immense number of axillary clusters of 

 pure white flowers nearly all season. It is a 

 rapid grower, and suitable to train on a back 

 wall or on pillars or rafters. S. Capsicastrum, 

 8. Pseudo-capsicum, S. ciliatum, S. Hendersonii, 

 and others are popular plants for green-house 

 or house decoration when covered with their 

 bright colored berries. 8. marginatum, S. 

 Warscewiczii and S. robustum are very showy 

 large-leaved plants, and are valuable for sub- 

 tropical decoration. A large number of other 

 species have been introduced, and many of 

 them are useful on account of their ornamen- 

 tal appearance. The annuals, and a large 

 number of the other species, may be readily 

 raised from seeds. Those which bear tubers 

 may be readily increased thereby, and the 

 stove and green-house shrubby sorts may 

 generally be propagated from cuttings. Out 

 of twenty tuber-bearing species which have 

 been named, J. G. Baker, in the "Journal of 

 the Linnean Society," vol. xx., is of opinion 

 "that six, viz., S. tuberosum, S. Maglia, S. 

 Commersoni, S. cardiophyllum, 8. Jamesii and 

 S. oxycarpum, possess a fair claim to be con- 

 sidered as distinct species in a broad sense." 



Sola'ria. Named in honor of Francisci de Borja 

 Solar, an eminent Chilian mathematician. 

 Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



8. Miersioides, the only species introduced, 

 is a remarkable, green-house, bulbous plant, 

 with small green flowers, introduced from 

 Chili in 1871. It is seldom found in cultiva- 

 tion except in botanical collections, and is 

 increased by seeds or offsets. 



Soldaiie'lla. A diminutive of solidus, a shil- 

 ling ; shape of the leaves. Nat. Ord. Primu- 

 lacecB. 



A small genus of beautiful little alpine 

 plants, very suitable for rock-work. They 

 are half-hardy, herbaceous perennials, with 

 purple or blue flowers, natives of Switzerland. 



SON 



They will not stand the hot, dry weather of 

 this country unless great care is taken to 

 keep them shaded from the mid-day sun, and 

 they must not be allowed to get dry. Propa- 

 gated by division or from seeds. 

 So'lea. Green Violet. In honor of W. Sole, 

 author of an essay on the genus Mentha. Nat. 

 Ord. Violacece. 



S. concolor, the only known species, is com- 

 mon in woods from New York southward. 

 Syn. lonidium. 



Soleno'phora. From solen, a tube, and ph,yrein, 

 to bear; in allusion to the tubular form of 

 the corolla. Nat. Ord. Gesneracece. 



A small genus of plant-stove, evergreen, 

 pubescent shrubs, natives of Mexico. S. 

 coccinea forms a neat plant, bearing showy, 

 bright scarlet flowers in the axils of the 

 leaves. S.Endlicheriana is a handsome plant 

 with flowers of a bright orange color marked 

 with purple, and large, broadly-elliptic, heavy 

 leaves, a foot or more long, borne on long 

 petioles. They require the same treatment 

 as Gloxinia. Syn. Arctocalyx. 



Solida'go. Golden Kod. From solidare, to 

 unite ; alluding to its supposed healing prop- 

 erties. Nat. Ord. Compositce. 



A very extensive genus of hardy, herba- 

 ceous perennials, indigenous to and com- 

 mon throughout the United States, only one 

 species being found in Asia or Europe. The 

 beauty of the plant would warrant its cultiva- 

 tion, had not Nature's hand rendered it en- 

 tirely unnecessary. 



So'llya. Named in honor of Richard Horsman 

 Solly, a vegetable physiologist and anatomist. 

 Nat. Ord. Pittosporacece. 



A small genus of slender, twining, ever- 

 green shrubs of much beauty. Their leaves 

 are narrow, quite smooth, of a deep, glossy 

 green on the upper surface, and paler be- 

 neath. ' The flowers are deep blue, and pro- 

 duced in terminal cymes or clusters of from 

 six to ten flowers each. Though properly 

 green-house plants, they are well adapted for 

 summer flowering in the open border. 8. 

 heterophylla, typical of the genus, is a native 

 of the Swan River country, where all the 

 species are found. It was discovered by Mr. 

 Drummond, and sent to England in 1836. It 

 is increased either by cuttings or from seed, 

 the latter being preferable. All the species 

 are hardy from Virginia southward. 



Solomon's Seal. See Polygonatum multiflorum. 



Solomon's Seal. False. See Smilacina. 



So'nchus. Sow Thistle. From somphos, hol- 

 low; the stems are hollow. Nat. Ord. Com- 

 positce. 



The more common species of this genus are 

 coarse, roadside weeds, naturalized from Eu- 

 rope. One or two species with j'ellow flow- 

 ers, from the Madeira and Canary Isles, are 

 very ornamental. They are, however, rarely 

 cultivated. 



Soneri'la. From Sootli-Soneri-ila, the Khassee 

 name of one of the species. Nat. Ord. Melas- 

 tomacece. 



A very extensive genus of East Indian 

 plants, remarkable in the order for having all 

 the several parts of their flowers in whorls of 

 three, or trimerous, as it is technically called. 

 The plants are mostly herbaceous, though 

 sometimes sub-shrubby, and of variable habit ; 



