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In the fexual fyftem of Linnaeus, at this time fo 
generally received, and fo well eftabiifhed, it belongs 
to the Pentandria monogynia, or fuch plants as have 
five ftamina and one ftyle. The plants of this order 
are arranged into five fubdiviiions. The Atropa 
comes in among thofe, that have declinated ftamina. 
According to this method, we fhall give its generical 
characters from the laft edition of Linnaeus’s Genera 
Plantarum. 
The molt obvious and eftential character of the 
genus is the globofe berry , and open calyx (8). The 
general character is as follows. 
© 
Atropa Linn. Gen. Plant. Ed. 5. N°. ziz. 
The calyx is a gibbous permanent perianthium, 
formed of a fingle leaf divided into five acute feg- 
ments. 
The corolla is formed of a fingle bell-fhaped petal, 
the tube of which is very fhort ; the limb ventricofe, 
of an oval figure, and longer than the calyx. The 
mouth is fmall, expanded, and divided into five pretty 
equal fegments. 
The ftamina are five fubulated filaments proceed- 
ing from the bafe of the flower, and are of the fame 
length : at the bafe they are connivent, and at the 
top bent outwardly. The antherre are thick and 
affurgent. 
The germen is of a femiovated figure : the ftyle 
is filiform, of the length of the ftamina, and in- 
elinated. The ftigma is capitated, tranfverlely ob- 
long, and affurgent. 
(8) See Lin. Syft, Natune, edit. Lugd.Bat. 1756. p.97. N°. 222. 
The 
