SOLANACEA. 45 
has recently been proclaimed for the whole State. Fortunately, well-fed 
stock usually leave the plant severely alone. Although a perennial, it is 
not difficult to radicate if taken in time, and cut down before flowering. 
Two or three cuttings a year will soon exhaust it, but if the plant is dug 
out or pulled up with the roots, dried, piled, and burnt, the results are 
more satisfactory. On arable land, cultivation easily keeps it under. The 
fruits are the especially poisonous part, and have been known to cause the 
death of children. The solanin they contain is an alkaloid, and not an 
irritant poison. The symptoms are congestion of the blood-vessels of the 
stomach and thorax, sweating, dimness of sight, dizziness, vomiting, and 
purging. The two latter will often, if aided, remove the dangerous. 
symptoms. 
The Apple of Sodom is a spreading or diffuse shrub or herb of one 
tu three feet. Foliage green, but sprinkled as well as the branches with 
a few small star-shaped hairs. Prickles stout, often thickened downwards 
on the stem and leaves, more slender on the calyces. Leaves deeply pinna- 
tifid, with very blunt, rounded, obovate, or spathulate lobes, often wavy ;. 
the whole leaf three to six inches long. Flowers in small clusters on short 
and simple rarely once forked steams. Calyx divided to the middle into 
blunt lobes. Berries globular, rather large, variegated green and white, or 
finally vellow. 
Proclaimed for the whole State, February, 1907. 
Solanum, nigrum, L. The Black or Common Nightshade. It is a 
native of Europe and Africa, and is a weak annual or biennial, a foot or 
more in height, with black, red, yellow, or green berries. It is supposed 
to be a naturalized alien, but was collected in Australia, growing apparently 
wild, more than a hundred years ago. Although useless as a fodder plant, 
it possesses no virulent poisonous properties, and as a rule stock do not 
touch it. The plant is commonly regarded as highly poisonous, partly 
owing to confusion with the R@ >" Deadly Nightshade (Atrofa Belladonna), 
which is fortunately rare, and partly owing to hasty generalization. A 
small amount of Solanmin is present in the stem and berries of Solanum 
nigrum, but these are usually less poisonous than green potatoes, in which 
alkaloids also appear. In addition, stock do not touch it at all unless 
starved. Solanin causes pain, tremors, and purging. Belladonna poisoning 
causes staggering gait, paralysis, and slow respiration. Death ensues 
rapidly if sufficient has been eaten. The berries of the Black Nightshade 
are often eaten by children without any ill-effects beyond perhaps ‘a stomach 
ache, or, if eaten in excess, sickness or purging. They have even been used 
instead of raisins for plum pudding with no results out of the ordinary. It 
is possible that Solanum migrum may develop more Solanin in the dry, 
sunny climate of Australia than elsewhere, but, if so, we have no evidence 
of the fact. The Black Nightshade, being of short duration, is easily kept 
down if the formation of seed is prevented. 
=” Nicotiana glauca, Graham. The Tree Tobacco. This is a shrubby 
garden escape introduced from South America, which seems likely to be- 
come a nuisance in some of the Northern districts, though of use for pro- 
ducing rapidly growing shelter hedges. In excess, the plant is undoubtedly 
poisonous, though moderate quantities can be eaten without serious conse- 
quences. Fortunately, it is not. very palatable, although, as in the case of 
many poisonous* or injurious plants, stock may acquire a morbid taste for 
it. The plants should be dug up, piled, and burnt before flowering. Deep 
ploughing buries any seeds present in the soil, and they soon die. 
* It has recently been stated to cause blindness in stock. 
