294 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



and its fruit is by some supposed to be the " Apple of 

 Sodom." The roots of Hemidesmus indicus, are much used 

 in India as a substitute for Sarsaparilla, and are called 

 "Indian Sarsaparilla." 



The Bindweed Family. 



(CONVOLVULACE^. ) 



Shrubs, fruticuls, or herbs, often tubercorms, erect, twining 

 or creeping. Leaves alternate, entire, or lobed. Flowers 

 axillary or terminal, generally on long footstalks, 2 or more 

 together, or in a one-sided raceme, some with bracts, which 

 enlarge after flowering. Calyx imbricated, often unequal. 

 Corolla tubular or salver-shaped, twisted before expansion. 

 Fruit a capsule, dry or succulent. 



Nearly 700 species constitute this family. They are chiefly 

 found in warm countries, the great mass being represented 

 by twining plants, many of which have beautiful flowers, but 

 of short duration, opening only at night and fading early in 

 the morning. The greater number abound in a milky juice 

 which is of an acrid principle. 



Originally the largest mass of the species of this family 

 were contained in the genus Convolvulus and Ipomea, but 

 modern botanists have separated them into a number of 

 smaller genera. 



Sweet Potato or Batata {Batatas edulis). This is sup- 

 posed to be originally a native of India, but it has long been 

 universally cultivated throughout all tropical and subtropical 

 regions. It forms one of the principal articles of food fur the 

 natives of New Zealand and Islands of the Pacific. It is a 

 twining plant with heart-shaped leaves, having flowers like 

 convolvulus, and tuberous roots like potatoes ; by change of 

 letters and pronunciation, the name potato was derived from 

 the Spanish Batata. There are many varieties, varying con- 

 siderably in size and shape from that of an ordinary potato 

 to several lbs. in weight, some in Java attaining a large 

 size. They are imported to this country from Spain. 



