THE NIGHTSHADE TRIBE. 187 



shining black, and follows a livid brown corolla. 

 The Mandrake is a species of the same genus ( Atropa 

 Madragora), but it has whitish flowers veined with 

 purple ; and scarcely any stems ; it is only found in 

 the southern parts of Europe. 



Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) lives on commons, 

 especially where the soil is chalky, near old cities and 

 upon banks. Its broad pale leaves have a fetid 

 smell, are irregularly lobed at the edges, and are 

 covered all over with greasy hairs. The flower sits 

 close upon the stem, and have a large dirty-yellow 

 corolla, veined with brownish purple, which gives 

 them a peculiar livid appearance. 



The Tho7ii-apple (Datura Stramonium), so cele- 

 brated for its narcotic properties, is distinguished by 

 its fruit being dry and covered with stiif spines ; and 

 Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum) by its long tubular 

 corolla and smooth dry fruit bursting into two valves. 



To enumerate any greater number of these delete- 

 rious plants would be to occupy a larger space than 

 I have room for ; what I have already mentioned 

 will suffice to make you understand their general 

 nature ; and for the rest you must consult systematic 

 works. All that I beg you to recollect is, that plants 

 of the Nightshade tribe, are not only monopetalous, 

 but have a superio?' two-celled ovanj, regular 5-lobed 

 flowers, and alternate leaves. The fruit of all such 

 avoid, until it has been ascertained by the experience 

 of others, that they can be eaten with safety. 



You will scarcely suspect that those prettiest of fa</M 

 spring flowers, Primi'oses, Oxlips, and Cowslips, can be 



