326 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
GENUS X. 
NIGHTSHADE. 
S 0 L A N U M. 
THE flower is formed of a fingle petal, deeply divided into five fegments. The cup is made of 
a fingle piece, and in the fame manner divided into five fcgments. The fruit is a roiindifli 
berry. The feeds are numerous, and are contained in two cells. 
LinnEEUs places this among the pentandria monogyina ; the threads in the flower being five, and the 
ftyle from the rudiment of the fruit fingle. 
DIVISION I. BRITISH SPECIES. 
I. Woody Nightfhade. 
Solanum ligmfiim. 
The root is compofed of numerous, thick 
fibres, 
The ftalks are woody, but weak : they are co 
vered with a brown bark toward the bottom ; 
but it is paler in the tenderer parts. 
The leaves are placed on long footflalks ; and 
they are broad, oblong, and pointed. Thofe co- 
ward the lower part ot the plant are undivided ; 
but thofe coward the cop have one or two nicks, 
making a kind of ears near the bafe. 
The flowers are placed in clufliers upon flen- 
der footftalks : they are fmall, and of a dark 
purple, with yellow heads of the threads in the 
middle. 
The berries arc large, oblong, and, when ripe, 
of a very fine red. 
It is common in damp grounds, and flowers in 
J"iy- 
C. Bauhine calls it Solanum fcandens feu dulca- 
mara. Others, Solanum lignofum. 
2. Sea Woody NIghtlhade. 
- Dulcamara maritima. 
The root Is compofed of a multitude of large 
fibres. 
The flalks are numerous, woody, and covered 
with a grey bark; and the young twigs are of a 
deep green. 
I'he leaves are oblong, and irregularly dented 
with a few deep notches : they are of a bluilli green. 
The flowers are few and large: they fland in 
Iprcading tufts, and are of a paler blue than in 
the common kind, but of the fame form. 
The berries are oblong, and, when ripe, black. 
DIVISION II. 
I I. Common Tree Nightfliade. 
Solanum fruticofum angujlifolium. 
The root is compofed of numerous fibres. 
The ftem is firm, woody, and covered with a 
brown bark: the plant is a yard or more in 
height, and fpreads into branches in a regular 
and elegant manner. 
The leaves are long, flcnder, and of a beau- 
tiful green. 
We have it about the fea-coafls in the north: 
It flowers in July. 
Ray calls it Solanum lignofum-, feu dulcamara 
marina. 
The vjoody mghljhade^ though of the folamim 
kind, has no dangerous qualities. It operates 
gently by flool, and opens obftru<5lions of the 
vifccra. The woody part of the fl:em has moft 
virtue. A decodtion of this is good in the jaun- 
dice. 
9. Common Wild Nightfliade, 
Solanum vulgare. 
The root is compofed of numerous fibres. 
The ftalk is round, green, thick, and of a 
firm fubflrance : it fpreads out into numerous 
branches, and is two feet high. 
The leaves are placed on long footftalks : they 
are oblong, broad, fliarp- painted, and of a deep 
green. 
The flowers are fmal! and white : they fl:and 
in clufl:ers eight or ten together, and have yellow- 
buttons in the middle. 
The berries are round, and, when they are 
ripe, black. 
It is common in cultivated ground, and no 
where fo much as in the borders of gardens. Ic 
flowers in Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls ic Solanum hacdfenwi primum 
five officinarum. Others, Solanum vulgare ; and, 
from its growing in gardens, Solanum hor- 
tenfe. 
The leaves of this kind are ufed externally as 
cooling and repellent ; but, if not managed with 
caution, they may be dangerous. 
The flowers fl:and fingly on fhorC footftalks 
rifing from the bofoms of the leaves : they are 
large and white, with yellow buttons in the 
centre. 
The berries are large, round, and of a bright 
fine red. 
It is a native of America, and flowers in au- 
tumn. 
C. Bauhine calls ic Solamtm fruticofum baccife- 
rum. Others, Strycbnodendron, and Amomum Plinit. 
FOREIGN SPECIES. 
a, Love-Apple. 
