Solanacecz Datitra. 



331 



one, D. Stramonium (Thorn-Apple), is occasionally found in 

 waste places in this country as a waif of cultivation. This has 

 large white flowers, but there is a variety with violet flowers 

 called Tdtula. The generic name is an alteration of the 

 Arabic Tatorah. 



1. D. ceratocaula (fig. 180) is a spreading or decumbent 

 annual with thick fistular stems and odoriferous white flowers 

 tinged with violet. A native of South America. 



D. Metel is an erect slightly-pubescent species with fragrant 

 white flowers and large spiny capsules. D. fastuosa has 

 purplish stems and very long tubular funnel-shaped flowers, 

 yellowish within, and tinged with violet externally. D. humilis 

 has double flowers, and is considered to be a dwarf variety of 

 the last. D. meteloldes, similar to MUel^ with large longer- 

 tubed flowers of a bluish violet. 



9. PETtttTIA. 



A small genus of South American herbaceous often viscid 

 perennials. Leaves simple. Flowers solitary and axillary. 

 Calyx 5-lobed ; lobes spoon-shaped. Corolla funnel- or salver- 

 shaped ; limb 5-lobed, spread. Stamens 5, included, unequal. 

 Fruit capsular, 2-celled, many-seeded. Petun is the Brazilian 

 for Tobacco. 



Fig. 181. Petunia Tiolacea. (J nat. size.) 



Fig. 182. Petunia nyctaginiflora. 

 (J nat. size.) 



1. P. violacea (fig. 181). This is one of the parents of the 

 numerous hybrid varieties now in cultivation. A weak 



