84 CLASS V. ORDER I. 



91. HYOSCYAMUS. 



Hyoscyamus NIGER. Henbane. 



American Medical Botany, PI. xvii. 



Lower leaves sinuated and clasping; flowers ses- 

 sile. 



Of the natural order of Inridcz like the last, equally poisonous, 

 and of no less utility in medicine. The whole herb has a glau- 

 cous or sea-green color, is hairy and viscid, and emits a rank, 

 offensive smell. The stalk is one or two feet high, round branch- 

 ing and rigid. The first leaves spread upon the ground, and have 

 some resemblance to a young thistle. They are large, oblong, 

 frequently contorted, clasping, cut into acute lobes, and pointed ; 

 the upper ones generally entire. 



The flowers form a revolute, one sided spike at the end of the 

 stem or branch, leaving, as they fall off, a straight row of cap- 

 sules. The calyx has five short acute segments. The corolla 

 is funnel shaped, irregular, with five spreading, obtuse segments, 

 of a pale yellow or straw color, with a beautiful net work of 

 purple veins. Stamens inserted in the tube of the corolla, with 

 large oblong anthers. Style slender, longer than the stamens, 

 declined with an obtuse stigma. Capsule two celled, roundish, 

 covered with a lid, and invested with the persistent calyx, the 

 segments of which extend beyond it, and become rigid and prick- 

 ly. The seeds are numerous, small, unequal, brownish, and are 

 discharged by the horizontal separation of the lid. — Road sides, 

 &c. — June and July. — Biennial. 



92. VERBASCUM. 

 Verbascum TiiAPsus. Common Mullein, 



Leaves dccnrrcnt, woolly on both sides ; stem 

 simple. L. 



Every body knows this tall, woolly, and very common plant. 

 Stem erect, straight, woolly, winged by the decurrent base of the 

 leaves. Leaves exceedingly woolly on both sides, ovate-lanceo- 

 late, sessile, slightly serrate or waved on the margin. The stem 

 terminates in a long, thick, cylindrical spike, with handsome 

 five parted yellow flowers. — Dry pastures. — July, August. — 

 Biennial. 



