804 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



of about 12 or 18 inches. It is too tender for successful 

 out-door cultivation in this country, but succeeds well and 

 produces fine fruit under glass. There are several varieties, 

 their fruit varying in shape and colour, being either long or 

 short podded, red or yellow. There are also some distinct 

 species, such as Cherry Pepper {Capsicum cerasiforme)] Bird 

 Pepper {C. haccatu?n)'^ Bell Pej^per (C. grossum); Spur 

 Pepper (C. frutescens)^ a shrub — which are all, more or less, 

 grown in different countries, and extensively used in 

 cookery in hot climates, being considered beneficial in ex- 

 citing the appetite. The dried fruit when ground constitutes 

 Cayenne pepper. In this country they are greatly used as 

 pickles, and in sauces. 



Tomato or Love Apple {Lycopersicam esculentum). An 

 annual weak trailing plant with soft stem, winged leaves and 

 yellow flowers. It is a native of South America, and is cul- 

 tivated in most warm countries for the sake of its fruit. It 

 succeeds best in this country when trained against walls. 

 There are several varieties, bearing large red or sometimes 

 yellow fruit, which is used for culinary purposes, the well- 

 known sauce called tomata sauce being made from them. 



Wintev Chevrj (Phi/saUs Alkekengi). A perennial plant, 

 native of the South of Europe, having fruit like a small 

 cherry, which becomes enclosed in the enlarged leafy per- 

 manent calyx ; in some parts the fruit is eaten, but is much 

 surpassed by what is called the Cape Gooseberry {Physalis 

 eduUs), a native of tropical America. It is a weak sub-erect 

 plant with a soft stem ; its fruit has a very luscious flavour 

 and is very enticing to eat. 



Mandrake {Mandragoi^a officinarum). A perennial plant, 

 native of the South and East of Europe and Western Asia ; 

 it has large tap roots, from which spring a number of simple 

 lance-shaped leaves, the flowers being produced amongst 

 them close to the stem and succeeded by the fruit, which 

 lies on the ground round the centre of the plant ; it is hke 

 the potato apple but larger. This plant is of ancient renown 

 for virtues superstitiously founded on the resemblance of the 



