SOL AN ACE.*:. 185 



corolla-tul.e. anthers small ; ovary taporin^^ int., tl.e sUMiU-r «tyle wlm-h is a 

 it le ioniser than the stamens, 2-celle.l, 2 ovules in each cell The root .s 

 somewhat the si.e and shape of a me.linn.-size.l Swe.iish turn.,,, tuherous m 

 character giving off stems from all points near the crown ; Heshy and soft 

 when <rro'wing, very hard when dry. Perennial. 



Geoiaphu -Its home is in the high lands of Mexico, near the 20th par- 

 allel, a rainv district ; it grows at an elevation of four to six thousand eet 

 above the sea level. It is now cultivate.! in British India, m correspond ng 

 latitn.les and altitudes to its American home. Tiie species and its l.K-ahty 

 were in doubt till 1829, when Dr Coxe of Philadelphia obtained living plants 

 from Mexico, ami settled the .luestion. r ,i . . Uut 



Ftmolonu.-Pinga, the specific name, is the Spanish name for tiie plant 

 and iiulicates its me.licinal property. Jalap, the popular name, is derived 

 from the name of the city Xalapa in Mexico, near which the plant was h.>t 



^'' //tor//. -It was carried to Europe by the Spaniards for its me.li.inal 

 properties early in the seventeenth century. ,• n . f 



Preparation. -The medicinal properties reside lu a resiu found in the r..ot. 

 The root when in perfect condition, yields about 20 per cent of the resin. 



The r.)ots are washed, and the larger ones cut into slices and suspen.lo.l 

 in nets over fires till .Iry, when they are very hard; they are then ready f.,r 



* V^^'^-The me.licinal properties of jalap are especially cathartic; when 

 a.lminiscered in small doses it is alterative, and, in still smaller doses tonic, 

 lu .,rdinarv doses it is a safe but violent cathartic ; ginger mixed with it modi- 

 fies its activity. It was f.,rmcrlv administered with calomel. Its tincture 

 constitutes a part of the black draught, and it is regarded as a very valuable 

 cathartic in brain troubles. Though violent, it does not irritate an.l inflame 

 the intestinal canal, and is hence a safe medicine. 



Order XXXIX SOLANACE^. 



Flowers perfect, generally regular, axillary or terminal, solitary, fas- 

 cicled, or subcorymbose ; calyx, with sepals united, usually .5-lobed or 

 tooth.'d, occasionallv 4 to 6, persistent; corolla hypogynous ; petals 

 united, rotate or campanulate ; segments 5, rarely 4 to G, folded or 

 twisted in the bud ; stamens on the corolla-tube equal and alternate 

 with its segments, sometimes united at top ; ovary 2-5-celled ; ovules 

 many. Fmit varied in form, frequently a many-seeded, pulpy berry, 

 sometimes a dry capsule. Herbaceous or woody plants, with watery 



juice. . ^, , , 



No. of genera, ()(i: species, 1,200; foun.l in wanner parts ot the old 

 world, and in temperate parts of America. 



LYCOPERSICUM. '!'..uin. Calvx .")- or 10-parted. persi.stent; corolla 

 wheel-sliap.Ml, tube short ; limb plicated, with f, to 10 lobes; stamens, 

 5 or 6 in th.- throat of the corolla, protruding ; filaments short ; anthers 

 oblono'-conical, cohering by an elongated m.Mubrane at top, opening 

 lenothwise on the inner side. Fruit a berry, varying from a prolate 

 spheroid to subglobular, usually an oblate spheroid or flattened globe, 

 pulpy, and many-.seeded. Annual. 



