50 



LEAVES 



a large branching stem attaining a height of about 1*5 metres, which 

 flowers, ripens its seeds, and dies. The smaller branches of this plant 

 with the leaves and flowers constitute the drug from which the green 

 extract of henbane and juice of henbane should be prepared ; the 

 flowering tops are dried and sold ; the leaves separated from the stalks 

 and dried constitute in part the official drug. 



FIG. 33. Henbane (H. niger). Flowering top of a large second 

 year's plant of biennial Henbane. Reduced. 



Annual henbane is a much smaller plant than the biennial. The 

 stem does not branch as that of the biennial does, nor are the leaves 

 so large or so deeply incised ; the corolla is paler in colour and less 

 deeply veined with purple. This variety flowers in the first year of 

 its growth, ripens its seeds, and dies. The dried leaves are included 

 in the official description, but the commercial drug frequently contains 

 a large proportion of the stem. 



Four commercial varieties of henbane leaves must therefore be 

 distinguished, viz. : 



4 First biennial,' consisting of the leaves of the first year's growth 

 of the biennial variety. 



