THE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 
[ORDER LIV. 
CALYX of 5, rarely 4 or 10 SEPALS, 
usually only united at the base, remaining 
with the fruit (persistent) ; free from and 
inserted below the seedcase (inferior). 
COROLLA of 5, rarely 4 or 10 PETALS, 
united into a short tube and spreading 
into a limb with the same number of equal 
or nearly equal lobes, plaited in bud, star- 
like (rotate), salver-shaped or bell-shaped 
(campanulate), inserted below the seedcase 
(hypogynous). 
STAMENS 5, rarely 4 or 10, as many as the 
petals and alternating with them, inserted 
in the corolla-tube (epi-petalous), the anthers 
opening to free their pollen by pores at 
the apex or by slits along their inner 
surface. 
PISTIL of 2 CARPELS, placed obliquely, 
uniting into a seedcase and a single style 
crowned with an entire stigma. 
SOLANACEiE] 
FRUIT a berry or capsule, 2-celled, rarely 
incompletely 4-celled, with several seeds 
in each cell attached to a central column 
(placenta), the berry decaying to free the 
seeds (indehiscent), the capsule opening 
from the top by valves or splitting cross- 
wise and opening transversely by a lid. 
FLOWERS showy, solitary, or in forked 
clusters with the central flower opening 
first (cymes). 
STEMS often with gland-tipped hairs and 
sometimes with prickles. 
LEAVES alternate, often with a smaller leai 
in the axil, without stipules. 
DISTINGUISHED by the usually regular, 
5-lobed corolla, plaited in bud, the 5 
stamens, and the oblique position of the 
carpels, the superior 2-celled ovary, and 
the alternate leaves. 
T HE Nightshade Family is a very important one, found in all the temperate parts of the world, 
though it is most abundant in the tropics. 
Many species belonging to tropical or subtropical countries are cultivated in greenhouses 
and gardens. The* Duke of Argyll’s Tea-tree (Lycium chinense) makes a beautiful hedge 
or is successful as a creeper ; the Tobacco-plant with its sweet-scented tubular flowers, Petunias, 
Winter Cherry (Physalis Alkekengi), Nierembergia, Cestrums, Fabianas, and Nolanas all add 
to the beauty of house and garden. An interesting member of this family is the mandrake 
(Mandragora officinalis), concerning whose roots the fable was told that they shrieked if torn from 
the earth. 
Taken altogether this is one of the most poisonous orders, though it contains a few notable 
exceptions, one being the Potato (Solanum tuberosum), a native of Chili, which was introduced 
into Spain towards the end of the 16th century, then planted by Sir Walter Raleigh in his estate 
at Youghal, Co. Cork, and so finding its way into England. Another useful vegetable is the 
Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), which is now such a favourite food, and yet less than 100 
years ago was believed by botanists to be poisonous unless cooked. The Egg-plant (Solanum 
Melongena) was much used in cooking, especially in France. Cayenne pepper is obtained by 
grinding the dried fruits*of the Capsicum. Another vastly important genus is the Nicotiana — the 
