1887] History of Garden Vegetables. 53 
Smyrnium perfoliatum L. 
‘This species is perhaps confounded with S. olusatrum in some 
of the references already given. Loudon says it was formerly 
cultivated, and McIntosh says it is thought by many superior to 
S. olusatrum,—a remark which Burr (“ Field and Garden Vege- 
tables”) includes in his description. Although the species is 
separated by a number of the older botanists, yet Ruellius, 1529, 
is the only one I find who refers to its edible qualities. 
This plant, which De Candolle says has been under common 
culture for fifteen centuries (“a été une des plus communes dans 
les jardins pendant environ quinze siècles,” “ Orig. des Pl. Cult.,” 
72), has shown, so far as my researches indicate, no change of 
type under culture. The figures which occur in so many of the 
herbals all show the same type of plant, irrespective of the source 
from which the illustration may have been taken, unless perhaps 
the root is drawn rather more enlarged in some cases than in 
others. 
ALKEKENGI. Physalis sp. 
The alkekengi, usually known in our seed catalogues by the 
name of Strawberry Tomato, is classed with the Tomatoes, and 
it is worthy of note that Hernandez, in his work on Mexican 
plants, published in 1651, did the same. There are a number of 
species which occur under the general name, and the plant is 
frequently found in gardens, as some people are fond of the fruit, 
whether raw or preserved. The plant most often, however, occu- 
pies waste places, springing up spontaneously after being once 
introduced, and its products are of very minor importance among 
vegetables. : 
Among the species that have been identified from the seeds of 
„the “Strawberry Tomato,” obtained from commercial sources, 
are the following: ; 
1. Physalis angulata L. 
This species is found widely dispersed over tropical regions, 
extending to the southern portion of the United States and to 
Japan. It is first described by Camerarius, in 1588, as a plant 
hitherto unknown, and an excellent figure is given. It was seen 
in a garden by C. Bauhin? before 1596, and is figured in the 
* Camerarius, Hort. Med., 1588, 70, Fig. 17. 
2 Bauhin, Phytopin., 1596, 297. 
