ORDER MONOGYNIA. 
191 
In this natural family is the Datura stramonium , a large, ill 
looking, nauseous scented weed, with a funnel form, plaited co- 
rolla, either white or purple, with broad, dark-green leaves ; 
when the corolla falls off and the germ matures, it then becomes 
a large, ovate, thorny pericarp, often called Thorn-apple ; it 
continues to blossom during the summer, is found by the sides 
of roads, around old buildings and waste grounds. Yet even 
this disagreeable plant has an important use; it is, on account 
of its narcotic, and other active properties, highly valuable in 
medicine. 
In the group of plants we are now considering, is the To- 
bacco, (Nicotiana tabacum.) This is a native of America; it 
was imported into Europe about the middle of the 16th century. 
It was presented to Catharine de Medicis, Queen of France, as a 
plant from the new world possessing extraordinary virtues. The 
generic name Nicotiana is derived from Nicot, the name of the 
person who carried it to France. King James 1st of England 
had such a dislike to the fumes of this plant, that he wrote a 
pamphlet, which he called a “ Counter blast to tobacco.” It is 
highly narcotic, the excessive use of it, producing sleep like 
opium. The oil of tobacco, when applied to a wound, is said to 
be equally fatal as the poison of a viper. 
The Mandrake, (Atropa mandagora.) was much used by the 
ancients as an opiate ; they had many absurd notions respect- 
ing this plant ; they fancied in its roots which are very large and 
of a peculiar appearance, a resemblance to the human form, and 
thought that some judgement would follow those who took them 
out of the ground. This superstition is not unlike that which is 
sometimes discovered even in the present day by those who are 
afraid to sow fennel, because they say it is “ sowing sorrow.” 
Perhaps those very persons who would thus fear to perform acts 
so innocent as to take a root from the ground, or to put seeds 
into it, would have no hesitation in violating a command of God, 
or neglecting to perform their known duties. 
The Atropa mandagora or Mandrake, must be distinguished 
from the mandrake which grows in our country ; the latter bears 
a fruit which is pleasant to the taste and perfectly inoffensive. 
The botanical name of the American mandrake is Podophyllum, 
it is found in the class Polyandria. Y’ou can see in this instance 
the importance of botanical names being given in a language which 
shall be the same in all countries. The common name mandrake 
has been given to two plants essentially different ; but by a uni- 
formity in the scientific names, there is no danger of one being 
taken for the other by those who know any thing of botany. 
Tobacco — Mandrake or Atrapa. 
