WEEDS 249 



terminal ones only, open and display the broad, expanding 

 corolla. 



48. Horse-nettle 



Solanum Carolinense. — Family, Nightshade. Coior, violet, 

 or rarely white. Leaves, toothed or deeply cut, ovate or ob- 

 long. Time, summer. 



Calyx, s-parted. Corolla, wheel-shaped, 5-parted. Fruit, a 

 2-celled berry. Stout and erect perennials, with many stiff, 

 yellowish prickles upon the roughly hairy stem. 



In waste grounds and dry soil, from Connecticut to Florida, 

 westward to Texas. 



49, Common Nightshade 



S. nigrum, with white flowers, opposite, ovate, wavy-toothed 

 leaves and black berries, is found in shady, damp spots — an 

 ill-looking weed. 



The deadly nightshade is an English plant with bright red 

 berries, not found here. The tomato, egg-plant, and capsicum, 

 also the Irish potato, belong to this family, which contains, be- 

 sides these useful and edible plants, many that are very poison- 

 ous. The berry of the potato is said to be poisonous. 



50. Jamestown -weed. Thorn-apple 



Datura Stramonium. — Family, Nightshade. Color, white. 

 Leaves, ovate, toothed, large. Time, summer and autumn. 



Calyx, 5-toothed, the upper part falling away in fruit. Co- 

 rolla, 3 inches long, funnel-form, the edge 5-toothed. Stamens, 

 5. Fruit, a prickly 2-celled capsule. Flowers on peduncles 

 growing in the forks of the branching stems. 



Large, coarse, rank plants, often found in the barn-yards. They 

 are ill-scented and poisonous. 



51. Mullein 

 Verbascum Thapsus. — Family, Figwort. Color, yellow. 

 Leaves, thick, velvety, long, acute, alternate. Time, summer. 



