22 
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 
Black Henbane* 
Class Petandria. —Ordfer Monogynia. 
Nat. Ord. Solan EjE, Linn. Juss. 
Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, the lobes obtuse. Sta- 
mens inclined (or bent). Capsule covered with a lid, 2-celled. 
Spec. Char. Leaves sinuate, amplexicaul. Flowers sessile. 
The Genus Hyoscyanms contains several species, most of which 
are exotic, f The Hyoscyanius Niger is indigenous to Britain, and 
flowers in July and August, it is a biennial plant, very common 
in most parts of the country, and particularly so in the eastern pai'ts 
of Essex, Suffolk, and Kent; and it is not unfrequently met with in 
the neighbourhood of London; it is usually found growing on the 
sides of dry banks, and about old dunghills. The roots of this 
species of henbane, are fusiform, long, wrinkled, and externally of 
a brown colour, internally white. The first season (from sowing the 
seeds) there springs up a few largt soft leaves, of the same form as 
those on the stalks, — the following season, the stem shoots and rises 
to the height of about two feet, erect, cylindrical, and dividing into 
two, three, and sometimes more branches ; the leaves are placed 
irregularly or alternately on the stems ; are deeply sinuated on the 
edges and pointed at the extremity, surrounding the stalk at the base ; 
the flowers either emerge from the alae of the leaves, or form a spike 
at the top of the branches, are sessile, and mostly grow on one side 
of the stalk ; the calyx is pitcher shaped, 5 cleft and permanent ; 
the corolla is monopetalous, funnel shaped, and divided into 5 
obtuse segments of a pale yellowish colour, reticulated at the base 
with purplish veins ; the filaments are inserted into the tube of the 
corolla ; anthers heart-shaped, and of a deep purple colour ; the 
germen is roundish, style filiform, stigma round ; capsule ovate. 
* Fig. a. iu tbe annexed drawing, represents the upper branches of a plant, the flowers, 
leaves and capsules a little smaller than nature, b. The corolla cut open to shew the 
stamens, c. Pericarp containing seeds, d. The pistil. 
+ Eight species are known and cultivated in England. Vide Hort. Cant. 
