PHANEROGAMIA 



581 



inflorescences (Fig. 566) ; they are variously shaped and usually have 

 a five-lobed corolla, often of a pale violet colour. The oblique 

 position of the carpels (Fig. 564) is a distinctive characteristic of 

 the flowers of this family. The fruit is a berry or capsule. The 



seeds are generally reni- 

 form, and contain a curved 

 embryo embedded in an 

 oily endosperm. 



Representative Genera. 

 — (a) Fruit a capsule : Nico- 

 tiana ; Datura, capsule four- 

 valved ; Hyoscyamus, flowers 

 zygomorphic, capsule dehis- 

 cing transversely, a pyxidium. 

 (b) Fruit a berry : Solarium, 

 anthers converging, opening 

 by pores; Lycopersicum ; Cap- 

 sicum; Atropa; Mandragora ; 

 Physalis, the baccate fruit en- 

 veloped by the persistent red 

 calyx. 



Geographical Distribu- 

 tion. — The Solatiaceae com- 



Fig. 568. —Datura Stramonium (h nat. size.) — 

 Poisonous and Officinal. 



prise chiefly plants of the Tropical Zone. 



In addition to the officinal plants, this family 



contains a number of other economic plants, 



all of which are natives of South America : 



the Potato, Solatium tuberosum (p. 24, Fig. 



24) ; the Tobacco-plant, Mcotiana Tabacum 



(Fig. 566), and N. rustica ; the Tomato, 



Lycopersicum esculentum, etc. The Potato 



plant grows wild in the Andes mountains 



in Chili ; it was first introduced into Spain and thence into Europe in the latter 



half of the sixteenth century. The first introduction of Tobacco into Europe 



occurred about the same time. It is stated that Mcotiana Tabacum is still found 



growing wild in Peru and Ecuador. 



Poisonous. — Almost all of the plants of this family are wholly or in part 



Fia. 569. — Hyoscyamits niger $ nat. size).- 

 Poisonous and Officinal. 



