550 SOLANACEiE — OEOBANCHACE^. 



Datura, are used in India as sedative and narcotic. Several species 

 of Nicotiana furnish Tobacco. That chiefly used in Europe is procured 

 from N. Tabacum, a plant naturally inhabiting the hotter parts of 

 North and South America. It is an annual plant, attaining a height 

 of six feet, having dingy-red infundibuliform flowers (fig. 319, p. 206) 

 and viscid leaves. The leaves are the oflBcinal part, and their active 

 properties depend on a peculiar oily-like alkaloid called Nicotina, 

 They are employed in the form of infusion, tincture, and wine. 

 Tobacco is an energetic narcotic poison. Its oil, which is inhaled 

 and swallowed in the process of smoking, is one of the most deadly 

 known poisons. The Hottentots are said to kill snakes by putting a 

 drop of it on their tongues : the death of these reptiles is said to take 

 place instantaneously. It is employed medicinally as a sedative, and 

 its depressing action is useful in cases of hernia. Its depressing action 

 is indicated by its effect on the cerebral functions and on the heart. 

 The flavour and strength of tobacco depend on climate, cultivation, 

 and the mode of manufacture. That most esteemed by the smoker is 

 Havannah tobacco ; but the Virginian is the strongest. It is said 

 that small Havannah cigars are prepared from the leaves oi Nicotiana 

 repanda ; East Indian, Latakia, and Turkish tobacco, from N. rustica, 

 and fine Shiraz tobacco from N. persica. 



Order 128.' — OKOBAisrcHACB.a!, the Broom-rape Family. {Monopel. 

 Eypog.) Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. Corolla monopetalous, 

 hypogynous, irregular, usually bilabiate, persistent ; aestivation imbri- 

 cated. Stamens 4, didynamous. Disk fleshy. Ovary free, 1-celled, 

 composed of two carpels which stand fore and aft (antero-posterior), 

 with 2 or more parietal placentas ; ovules 00 ; style 1 ; stigma 

 2-lobed, each of the lobes belong half to each carpel. Fruit capsular, 

 enclosed within the withered corolla, 1-celled, 2-valved. Seeds GO, 

 minute; embiyo very minute, at one fend of fleshy albumen. — 

 Herbaceous parasitical plants, having scales in place of leaves. They 

 are natives of Europe, more especially the southern parts, and of Asia, 

 North America, and the Cape of Good Hope. Authors give 14 

 genera and 125 species. Examples — Orobanche, Lathrsea. 



The properties of the plants of the order are, in general, astrin- 

 gency and bitterness. Some have been used as tonics, and as applica- 

 tions to indolent ulcers. The species of Orobanche are called Broom- 

 rapes, on account of the ravages they are supposed to commit on the 

 Broom tribe. They attach themselves to the roots of various plants, 

 and are hence called Eoot-parasites. Different species infest and 

 injure different tribes of plants. Thus, Orobanche Rapum is parasitical 

 upon Broom and Furze ; 0. ramosa, upon Hemp ; 0. rubra, upon com- 

 mon Thyme; 0. minor, upon red Clover; O.-Rederce, upon the Ivy; 

 0. elatior and arenaria, upon different species of Compositae, as Cen- 

 taury and Milfoil. The stems of Orobanches have a large central 



