PENTANDRIA MONOGYKIA 133 



102. DATURA./,. JVutt, Gen. 200. 



Ktymology obscuro ; supposed to be from Tdtdrdh ; the Arabic name of the plant. J 



Calyx tubular, 5-angled, 5-cleft at summit, deciduous ; the base persist- 

 ant/ orbicular. Corolla funnel-form ; limb 5-angled, plicate ; tube long. 

 Capsule ovoid, echinate, or smooth, 4-valved, 2 to 4-cclled ; cells many* 

 seeded* 



Herbaceous : fetid and narcotic; leaves somewhat in pairs ; flowers on short, pe- 

 duncles, large, solitary, and axillary, or in the forks of the branches. Nat, Ord. 

 •J \'J. Limil. SOLANB.fi. 



1. D. Stramonium,!^ Stem dichotomously branched ; leaves ovate, 

 sinuate-dentate, smooth ; capsule echinate, erect. Beck, Bot. p. 259. 

 Vulgo — James-town (or corruptly, Jimeori) weed. Thorn-apple. 

 (lull. — Pomme epincuse. Germ. — Der Stechapfel. ///s/j.-Estramonio. 



Hoot annual. Stern 2 to 5 feet high, terete, pale yellowish green, (or dark pur- 

 ple) smooth, somewhat fistular. Leaves 4 to 6 or 8 inches long, and 3 to 5 inches 

 wid»', ovate, sinuate, or somewhat angulnr-dentat \ ( ftcn in opposite pairs, some- 

 times alternate) on petioles 1 to 3 or 4 inches long. Calyx nearly half as long as 

 the corolla, slightly pubescent. Corolla yellowish white, (or bluish purple,) about 

 .*> inches long ; limb campanulate, plicate, with 5 acuminate teeth. Stamens short- 

 «r than the corolla. Style as long as the stamens; stigma bilamcllate. Capsule 

 ovoid, an inch and half long, and an inch or more in diameter, erect, armed with 

 •harp spreading spines, 4-vaivcd, opening at summit, 4-cclied, 2 of the cells often 

 incomplete ; peduncle about half an inch long. Seeds numerous, somewhat rent- 

 form, rugose, black. 



Hab. Among rubbish ; in lanes, woody ards, &c. frequent. Ft. July- Aug. Fr. Sept. 



06s. The true D. Stramonium, with yelloxfiish stems, and white Jloirers, is rather 

 •carce in Chester County. I have only met with it in a few localities, about public 

 houses, along the St rasburg road. The -par. Tatula, Torr. (D. Tatula, Willd. 

 Vers* Purshf &c.) with dark purple stems, and bluish purple flowers^ is very com- 

 mon. It is usually »>f a larger growth than the other variety ; but with the excep- 

 tion of size and color, I can perceive no material difference. This distinction, 

 however, is very constant; and some respectable Botanists persist in regarding 

 ihem as two species. The D. Stramonium is a powerful narcotic,— and therefore 

 rather dangerous in unskilful hands ; but with judicious, cautious management, 

 will doubtless prove to be a valuable article of the Materia Med ica. For an inter- 

 esting account of its properties, See Dr. 5. Cooper's Inaugural T%esis. Philadel- 

 pliia, 1797. This plant is familiarly known here as an obnoxious weed, — and ha« 

 been, from time immemorial ; but it has every appearance of being an exotic. It is 

 the only species naturalized in the U. Slates. 



103. NICOTIANA. L. Mutt. Gen. 202. 

 { Xarned after John Nicot ; a French ambassador, who introduced it into France. 2 



Calyx somewhat urceolate, 5-cleft. persistent. Corolla funnel-form ; 

 limb spreading, plicate, 5-lobed. Stamens ascending. Capsule round- 

 ish-ovoid, 2 to 4-valved, 2-cclled, many-seeded. Seeds minute. 



Herbaceous, or suffrutirose: leaves alternate : flowers terminal, racemose or pan- 

 iculate. Nat. Ord. 213. Lindl. Soi.ane.c. 



I. N. Tabacum, L. Leax*es htncc*ovate y sessile, decurvent ; lobes 

 *f the corolla acute. Willd. Sp. 1. p. 1014. 

 Vulgo — Tobacco. 



12 



