SOLANACEAE WRIGHT'S DATURA 733 



paper of a child being poisoned by sucking the nectar of a flower of Wright's 

 Datura. Professor Chesnut, in speaking of the poisonous properties of the 

 same species, says : 



Datura meteloides is a very large-flowered species, which is native from southern Califor- 

 nia to Texas, and in some localities is common in cultivaton. No cases of poisoning have yet 

 been recorded against it, but it is largely used as an intoxicant by Indians, and is used in gen- 

 eral for the same purposes as jimson weed. It undoubtedly contains the same poisons. 



7. Lycium L. Matrimony Vine 



Shrubs or woody vines, often spiny; leaves small, entire, alternate, with 

 smaller ones, between; calyx 3-5 toothed or cleft, persistent, corolla funnel- 

 form or salver-shaped, usually 5-lobed, the lobes imbricated; stamens 5 rarely 

 4; anthers opening lengthwise; style slender; stigma capitate; ovary 2-celled; 

 berry globose, ovoid or oblong. 



About 75 species of wide distribution. 



Lycium halimifoliutn Mill. Common Matrimony Vine 

 A glabrous, spiny, or unarmed shrub; slender climbing or trailing stem; 



leaves lanceolate, oblong or spatulate; petioles short; peduncles filiform; calyx 



lobes ovate; corolla short, funnel-form; greenish-purple stamens slightly ex- 



serted ; berry oval ; orange red. 



Distribution. In thickets and waste places, escaped from gardens from 



Canada to Texas. Introduced from Europe. 



Poisonous properties. Supposed to be poisonous. 



SCROPHUI.ARIACEAE. Figwort Family 



Mostly herbs, shrubs or rarely trees; leaves without stipules; flowers per- 

 fect, regular or irregular; calyx 4-5 toothed, cleft or divided; corolla irregular 

 2-lipped or nearly regular; stamens 2-5, didynamous or nearly equal, inserted 

 on the corolla; pistil 1, 2-celled, many ovuled; fruit a capsule; seeds numerous, 

 with a small embryo in copious albumen. 



About 2500 species of wide distribution. Few plants of the family are 

 of economic importance. Several species are medicinal. The most important 

 are foxglove (Digitalis pur pur ea) ; mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), used as a 

 stimulant because of its mucilaginous properties, and speedwell or Culver's root or 

 Culver's physic (Veronica virginica), used for digestive disorders, when 

 fresh being a violent emetic-cathartic and containing a glucoside leptandrin. 

 Several species of the order are cultivated for ornamental purposes. The 

 Paulownia tomentosa, native to Japan, is hardy in the south. The foxglove is 

 also much cultivated. Several species of monkey flowers (Mimulus luteus) and 

 musk flower (M. moschatus) are cultivated. The best known of all is the 

 snap dragon (Antirrhinum ma jits), native to Europe. The genus Calceolaria, 

 of which there are numerous species, is native to Chili and other parts of 

 South America, and is cultivated. The C. crenati flora is a showy herbaceous 

 plant cultivated for its pretty slipper-shaped, sac-like flowers. The Maurandias 

 are Mexican climbers with heart-shaped or halberd-shaped leaves and open- 

 mouthed, somewhat bell-shaped, purple, rose-colored or violet corollas. The 

 Torenia asiatica, native to Asia, is cultivated for its handsome pale ^violet or 

 purple flowers. The turtle-head (Chelone glabra} is occasionally cultivated and 

 has large, white or rose-tinted corollas that are very pretty. The beard-tongue 

 (Penstemon) contains many species, found mostly in western America and 

 Mexico, the most beautiful of our western species being P. grandiflorus, with 



