SOL 



523 



SOL 



Solandra, Linn. In honour of Daniel Charles 

 Solander, LL.D., F.R.S., a Swede, companion 

 of Sir Joseph Banks in his voyage round the 

 world, and collector of the botanical notes 

 made during that expedition. They are pre- 

 served in the British Museum, and exhibit 

 great learning and deep research. Linn. 5, 

 Or. 1, Nat. Or. Solanacece. This is a splendid 

 genus of plants ; the foliage being very fine, 

 and the flowers large, like those of the Brug- 

 mdnsia. The best way to induce them to 

 flower is to grow them in two parts turfy loam 

 and one of peat, liberally applying heat and 

 water till they have perfected a good growth ; 

 then gradually withhold water until the leaves 

 drop off from drought, and they will flower 

 profusely. Cuttings, planted in mould or tan, 

 will root without any difficulty. Those taken 

 from the flowering shoots are more likely to 

 produce flowers while small. 



grandifldra . Pa. yel. . 3, S. Ev. CL 15 Jamaica 1781 

 guttata . . Pa. yel. . 3, S. Ev. S. 10 Mexico . 1830 

 lifevis . . . White . 11, S. Bv. S. 6 S. Ame. 1846 

 nitida . . . Yelsh.wt. 5, S. Ev. CI. 15 B. Ind. . 1820 

 oppositif&lia . White . 4, S. Ev. S. 10 Ceylon . 1820 

 viridifldra . Green . 4, S. Ev S. 6 S. Ame. 1815 



Solanum, Linn. The derivation of this word is 

 quite uncertain ; some derive it from Sol, the 

 sun ; others say it is Sulanum ; from sus, being 

 serviceable in disorders of swine ; and others 

 assert that it is from solor, tb comfort, referring 

 to its soothing, narcotic effects. Linn. 5, Or. 

 1, Nat. Or. Solanacece. All the more showy 

 species of this extensive genus thrive best in a 

 light rich' soil, and are readily increased by 

 seeds, or by cuttings, in sand, under a glass. 

 A great number of them are highly deserving 

 of cultivation, on account of their ornamental 

 appearance. The seeds of the tender annual 

 species should be raised on a hotbed, and 

 planted out in the open ground about the end 

 of May in a sheltered, dry situation. S. tube- 

 rdsum is that well-known and invaluable root, 



~~the potato, which, in a state of putrefaction, is 

 said to give out a most vivid light, sufficient to 

 read by. This was particularly remarked by 

 an officer on guard at Strasburg, who thought 

 the barracks were on fire, in consequence of 

 the light thus emitted from a cellar full of 

 potatoes. S. nigrum and some others are 

 highly virulent poisons. S. Dulcamara is a 

 very dangerous plant ; when first bruised or 

 chewed it is bitter, which quickly gives place 

 to a considerable degree of sweetness, hence its 

 name, Dulcamara, or Bitter-sweet. The berries 

 may be readily taken for currants by children ; 

 they excite vomiting and catharsis. Floyer 

 states that thirty of them killed a dog in less 

 than three hours, remaining undigested in the 

 stomach. Synmymes: 1, Nycterium amazd- 

 nium ; 2, S. Quiiinse; 3, S. molaceumj 4, N. 

 cornAtum ; 5, N. FontanesiAnum ; 6, N. loba- 

 turn; 7, N. heterod6xum ; 8, S. undatum ; 9, 

 S. miniatum; 10, S. longifblium ; 11 , S. 

 ovigerum; 12, S. insanwm; 13, S. uniflbrwm; 

 14, S.melanoce'rasum; 15, S. Gervantesii; 16, 



. S. spmosissimum ; 17, N. rostratum; 18, S. 



oleraceum; 19, N. eordif ilium ; 20, S. dulca- 

 maroides. See Lycoplrsicum and Nyctirium. 



