136 PEKTANDRIA M0N0GYN1A 



• Stem and leaves unarmed. 



1. S. Dulcamara, L. Stem fruticosc, flexuoso ; leaves cordate-ovate, 

 the upper ones often aurieulate-lobed at base ; flowers in lateral cymes. 

 Beck, Bot. p. 257. 



Bitter-Sweet Solanum. Vulgo— Bitter-sweet. Woody Night-shade. 

 Galilee— Douce-amerc. Germanice — Bitter suess. /lisp. — Dulzam&rn. 

 Root perennial. Sfrem 6 or 8 feel long, climbing, somewhat pubescent. Lower 

 leaves cordate, acuminate, entire ; upper ones often subha slate, or with two deeply 

 dissected auriculate lobes at base ; all minutely pubescent, and eiliate. Flowers 

 in lateral branched nodding cymes; pedicels half an inch long, clavate, articula- 

 ted to the branches; the common peduncle about 2 inches in length. Calyx-seg- 

 ments 5, short, ovate, rather obtuse. Corolla violet purple; lobes lanceolate, 

 spreading or reflexed, each with 2 green dots or tubercles at base ; tube short. An. 

 there large, yellow, slightly cohering and forming a cone. Berries oval, bright 

 red when mature. 



Hab. Moist grounds: about houses : Brandywine : not common. Fl. July. Fr. Sept, 



Obs. This foreigner is becoming naturalized about many houses ; and has been 

 found in some places along the Brandywine. The berries are narcotic and poison- 

 ous when taken into the stomach. An infusion of the root, and branches, is occa- 

 sionally used, in popular practice, as a diet drink, and remedy lor fevers, rhcunu- 

 lism, <Scc. but with what real efficacy I am not informed. 



2. S. nigrum, var. virginicum. £, Stem herbaceous, branched, an- 

 gular, scabrous on the angles^; leaves ovate, obscurely repand-deutate ; 

 flowers subumbellate. Beck, Bot. p. 257. 

 8. nigrum (exasperatum). JWuhl. Catal. p. 24. 



S. nigrum. Bigel. Bost.p. 84. Florid. Cestr. p. 26. Eat. Man. h. 

 344. 



'Black Solaxum. Vulgo — Night-shade. 



Root annual. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, much branched, angular or slightly winged, 

 the angles scabrous, or sometimes slightly denticulate. leaves 2 to 3 inches long, 

 and 1 to 2 inches wide, sometimes coarsely repand-toothed, narrowed suddenly at 

 base to a jxjtiolc about an inch long. Umbels lateral, few-flowered, nodding, re- 

 mote from the leaves; pedicels one third of an inch long ; the common peduncle 

 abuut an inch in length. Calyx-segments o, oblong-ovate, rather acute. Carol Im 

 white, minutely pubescent; lobes lance-oblong, acute, spreading, or somewhat re- 

 flexed. Berries globose, black when mature, 



Hab. About dwellings ; and among rubbish : frequent. /V.July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This seems to be nearly allied to the S. nigrum, of Europe, and Dr. Torrey 

 suspects it to have been introduced. 1 incline very much to be of the same opin- 

 ien. The plant is possessed of active deleterious properties ; and might produce 

 unpleasant consequences, if gathered by mistake among pot-herbs. 



3. S. tuberosum, L. Root producing tubers; stem herbaceous; 

 leaves interruptedly pseudo-pinnate, lobes entire g peduncles subdivi- 

 ded. Willd. Sp. 1. p. 1033. 



Tuberous Solanum. Vulgo— Common Potato. Irish Potato. 

 Gall. Pomme de icrre. Germ.— Die Kartoffel. Hisp.— Batatin. 

 Root pei enniul ? producing numerous roundish or oblong tubers. Stem 2 to3feet 

 hig\ thick, succulent, and angular, often decumbent, somewhat pubescent. Leave* 



