OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 283 
CHAPTER XXXVII. 
SOLANACE^. 
Character of the Order. — Calyx usually five-cleft below, and 
remaining on the fruit. Corolla monopetalous, and beneatli the pistil; 
limb generally five-cleft ; plicate in aestivation. Stamens epipetalous ; 
equal in number to the segments of the corolla. Embryo much curved . 
Fruit baccate. Placentas usually adnate to the dissepiment. Seeds 
numerous. 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this order are easily known by their flowers and their habit of 
growth. The flowers are generally regular, with the limb of the corolla divided into five equal segments, eacli 
of which is folded down the middle, when the flower is in the bud ; this fold is very conspicuous in some of the 
kinds of tobacco, and in the White Petunia. The stamens are equal in size, and generally form a projecting 
mass in the centre of the flower, as in the flowers of the common potato. Nearly all the plants belonging to 
this order have showy flowers, but a coarse foliage, which has always a disagreeable smell ; and nearly all are 
more or less poisonous, though they may be deprived of their deleterious qualities by being cooked. They are 
chiefly natives of North and South America. 
GENUS I. 
SOLANUM, Toum. THE NIGHTSHADE. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx generally five-cleft. Corolla rotate or campanulate, generally five-cleft. Anthers connivent, opening by pores 
at the apex. Berry roundish, usually two-celled. 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this genus are of various kinds ; some are herbaceous, some 
shrubs ; some are prickly, and others perfectly smooth ; and the leaves and flowers vary considerably in form, 
colour, and texture. There is, however, always a strong family likeness in the flowers, which renders it easy to 
recognise any species of this genus at first sight. The derivation of the word Solanum is not exactly known ; 
some persons say it is from sol, the sun ; others, from solor, to comfort, from the narcotic qualities of some of the 
species ; and others, from sularium, from sus, swine, potatoes being formerly only used to feed swine. The 
word was used by Pliny, but Tournefort was the first systematic botanist who adopted it. 
1.— SOLANUM ETUBEROSUM, Lindl. THE TUBERLESS NIGHTSHADE. 
Engravings.— Bot. Reg., t. 1712. I unequal, complicated, undulated, approximate, alternate ones very 
Specific Character. — Rhizomafleshy, but without tubers ; leaflets I small. Pedicels articulated. Calyx and corolla five-angled, glabrous. 
Description, &c. — This plant boars considerable resemblance to the common potato, both in its habit of 
growth and its flowers ; but its flowers are larger, and it has no tubers. The flower-stalks are also smooth and 
shining, instead of having " the rough dull appearance " of those of the potato. The plant is a native of Chili, 
whence it was introduced in 1833, and it will grow in any common garden soil. It flowers from July to 
October, and is propagated by dividing the roots, or rather, the underground stems. S. Commersoni introduced 
from Monte Video about 1822, is supposed to be a variety of this species, or, at any rate, nearly allied to it. It 
is now lost in British gardens. S. Commersoni, and a white-flowered variety of the common potato, are both 
figured in the Fifth vol. of the Hort. Trans. ; the latter is very ornamental. 
