192 DATURA STRAMONIUM 



outside of the corolla in D. Tatula. Other reasons have led 

 some of the best authorities to keep the species distinct, and 

 De Candolle believes D. Tatula to be a native of Central America. 

 It occurs more rarely in England than D. Stramonium under 

 similar conditions, and seems a more tender plant ; it is very 

 common in the south-west of Europe. 



Dunal, 1. c., p. 540; Syme, E. B., vi, p. 103; Watson, Comp. Cyb. 

 Br., p. 538; Benth, Handb. Br. Fl., p. 330; Bertoloni, Fl. Ital. r 

 vi, p. 606 ; DC., Geogr. Bot., ii, p. 733 ; Lindl., Fl. Med., p. 510 ; 

 Pappe, Fl. Med. Capensis Prodr., p. 30. 



Official Parts and Names. 1. STEAMONII FOLIA; the dried 

 leaves: 2. STEAMONII SEMINA; the ripe seeds: (B. P.). 1. The 

 leaves : 2. The seeds : (I. P.). 1. STEAMONII FOLIA; the leaves : 

 2. STEAMONII SEMEN; the seed: (U. S. P.). 



1. STEAMONII FOLIA. Stramonium Leaves. Collection and General 

 Characters. The leaves are directed in the British Pharmacopoeia 

 to be collected from plants in flower, cultivated in Britain. In the 

 Pharmacopoeia of India they are also directed to be collected when 

 the plant is in flower. In the United States the leaves are generally 

 gathered at any time from the appearance of the flowers till the 

 autumnal frost. When collected the entire plants are usually pulled 

 up, the leaves and young shoots are then separated and quickly 

 dried, and finally these are broken up and cut into short pieces, 

 in which condition they are commonly met with. 



The fresh leaves have a foetid, somewhat narcotic odour, which 

 they lose when dried, and then acquire a faint tea-like smell. The 

 taste of both the fresh and dried leaves is bitterish- saline, and 

 disagreeable. 



2. STEAMONII SEMINA. Stramonium Seeds. The characters of 

 these seeds are thus given in the British Pharmacopoeia : 

 " Brownish-black, reniform, flat, rough, in taste feebly bitter and 

 mawkish ; inodorous unless bruised, when they emit a peculiar 

 heavy smell." A tincture prepared by digesting the entire seeds 

 in spirit of wine presents a greenish fluorescent appearance. The 

 seeds are much more active than the leaves. 



3. SUBSTITUTES. Of late years the leaves of Datura Tatula^ 



