292 LX. SOLANACE-^. " [^Datura. 



liilunL — Herbs or shrubs. 



fascicled, 

 InflorescGuce 



usually extra-axillary {lateral with respect to the petiole). Lin- 

 n93us called this family Luridee^ and fancied that their lurid 

 appearance indicated the dangerous properties common to many 

 of them. They are acrid and narcotic, as the Deadly Nights 

 Shade, Mandragora^ Henbane, Thorn-apple, Tobacco, &c. ; whilst 

 the root of one, when cooked, affords a most miportant article 

 of food, the Potato; and the fruits of the Love-apple^ Winier- 

 cherry, and Capsicum are condiments. 



1. Datura, Cal. tubular. Caps. 4-valTecl. 



2. Hyoscyamus. Cal. tubular. Caps, opening transversely with a lid, 

 S. Atkopa. Cal. 5-partite. Anthers distant. Berry 2-celled. 



4. SoLANUM. Cal. deeply divided. Anthers connivent, opening by pores. 



Berry 2-celIed. 



* Margins of the lobes of the corolla imbricated in (estivation, 



Atrope^. 



^ 



1. Datura Linn. Thorn-apple. 



Cal. tubular, deciduous. Cor. funnel-shaped, angular, 

 plaited. Anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Stigma 2-lobed. 

 Capsule half-4-celled, 4-valved. — ISTamed from Its Arabic ap- 

 pellation Tatorah (Forskal). In some parts of the East Indies 

 it is called Datura. 



1, D. "^Stramonium L, (common T.) ; herbaceous, leaves 

 ovate annrulate-sinuate f^hibrous, fruit ovate erect clothed with 

 numerous nearly equal spines. JE. B, t. 1288. 



i^U 



I Si 



Waste ground in England. 0. 7 — 10. — The narcotic qualities 

 of this plant are well kno\yn. The capside is 2-celled; but each cell tW ^D 



is again divided below by a dissepiment, so that the lower portion 

 lias 4 dissepiments of which 2 only reach the top ; the summit i's 

 truly 2-celled. Flowers white. A variet}^ with purple stems and 

 Jlowers, has been found by Dr. Bromfield at Southsea, Portsmouth. 



2. HyoscYAMUs Liiin. Henbane. P™* 



IMA 



Hoist li 



CaL tubular, 5-cleft, Cor. funnel-shaped, oblique. Anthers j fcth 

 opening by longitudinal slits. Stigma capitate. Caps. 2-celled, J ircr,wi 

 opening with a lid. — ]N"anied from vc, voc, a hog, and Kvai^ioc, a I mM s 



bean. Hogs are said to eat the fruit, which bears some re- 

 semblance to a bean': the seeds do not prove injurious, though ■ S ^hihl 

 the plant be esteemed poisonous. 



1. H. niger L. (common H.) ; leaves amplexicaul sinuate, ^k 

 flowers nearly sessile axillary unilateral. E. B. t. 591. 



2. 8 J 

 opbg 



Waste places, especially in a chalky soil, often near towns and \\ 



villages. or ^. 6— 8.— Whole plant covered with unctuous ! ^1;^^ 



fetid hairs, ^ Ste^n much branched, rounded. Leaves subovate. Cali/x I ^alt^ 

 veined, as is the large dingy yellow corolla^ with purplish-brown 



aste 



am 



