258 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



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with a 5-lobed more or less unequal plaited border. Stamens declined. 

 Pod enclosed in the persistent calyx, 2-celled, opening transversely all 

 round near the apex, which falls off like a lid. Clammy pubescent, fetid, 

 narcotic herbs, with lurid Jiowers in the axils of the angled or toothed 

 leaves. 



1. H. ni ger, L. Leaves clasping, sinuate, toothed and angled ; flowers 

 sessile, in one-sided leafy spikes ; corolla dull yellowish, strongly reticu- 

 lated with purple veins. 



Black Hyoscyamus. Common or Black Henbane. 



Annual or biennial. Whole plant viscid and hairy, of a glaucous hue. Stem 1-2 

 feet high. Lower leaves petioled, spreading on the ground. Calyx closely embracing the 

 seed-vessel, strongly netted-veined. iseeds numerous, kidney-shaped, the surface strongly 

 reticulated. 



Road-sides and waste places. Native of Europe. July - August. 



Obs. This plant which is but sparingly naturalized as yet, is power- 

 fully narcotic and poisonous. A small fragment of a leaf, or a drop of 

 the juice of the plant falling upon the eye, dilates the pupil in a remark- 

 able manner. It is used in medicine as a substitute, in some cases, for 

 opium. 



7. DATU'RA, L. Thorn-apple. 



[Supposed to he from Tatorah ; the Arabic name of the plant.] 



Calyx tubular, prismatic, separating transversely above the base in fruit. 



Corolla funnel-form, the limb spread- 

 ing, plicate, 5 - 10-toothed. Sta- 

 mens included. Style simple ; stig- 

 ma 2-lipped. Capsule ovoid or sub- 

 globose, prickly, (rarely smooth), 

 half 4-celled at summit, 4-valved. 

 Seeds numerous, laterally compressed, 

 sub-reniform, roughish-dotted. An- 

 nuals, with coarse, fetid and nar- 

 cotic leaves, somewhat in opposite 

 pairs, and large, solitary, axiilary or 

 dichotomal jiowers, on short pe- 

 duncles. 



1. D. Siramo'nium, L. Stem dicho- 

 tomously branching ; leaves ovate, 

 sinuate-dentate, petiolate, smooth ; 

 capsule aculeate, erect. 

 Jamestown (corruptly Jimson) weed. 

 Thorn-apple. 



Fr. Pomme epineuse. Germ. Der 

 Stech-apfel. Span. Estramonio. 



Fig. 166. A capsule of the Thorn apple (Datura Stramonium). 



