Specific Characteh, — Quite smooth. Leaves pinnatifid, flegtaents 
liiiear-lanceolate. Berry oval. 
284 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
2.— SOLANUM LACINIATUM, Ait. THE CUT-LEAVED NIGHTSHADE. 
Synonymks. — S. pinnatifidum, Lam.; S. aviculare, Pers. ; S. 
rcclinatum, Hori, 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag., t. 349. 
Description, &c. — This is a very handsome species, and one which would scarcely be known for a Solanum, 
both from the anthers in the flowers being separated, and from the leaves, which are pinnatifid. The berries are 
of the shape of small plums, and their pulp, which is sweet and resembles that of a fig, is eatable. The species 
is a native of New Zealand, and was introduced in 1772. When it was first brought to England it was kept in 
a stove ; it was afterwards placed in a greenhouse ; and it was finally found to be quite hardy, and even to ripen 
its fruit thoroughly in the open air. It flowers nearly all the summer, and it is easily propagated either by 
cuttings or seeds. 
OTHER SPECIES OF SOLANUM. 
S. QUERCIFOLIUM, Lin. 
The leaves resemble those of the oak ; and the flowers are violet-coloured, with two green marks at the base 
of each segment of the corolla. A native of Peru ; introduced before 1787- 
S. RADICANS, Lin.fil. 
A native of Peru; introduced in 1771? with small violet-coloured flowers, and red berries about the size 
of a pea. 
S. ZUCCAGINANUM, Dun. 
A very handsome species, sometimes calted the warted Solanum, much cultivated in the gardens of Florence 
and Montpelier. The plant is of a bright green, but it is covered all over with minute crystalline warts. The 
flowers are white, and the berries cherry-shaped, and of a bright red when ripe. It was introduced in 1823. 
GENUS II. 
PHYSALIS, Lin. THE WINTER CHERRY. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-toothed ; corolla cam pan ulately 1 ways; &tigma capitate ; berry two-celled, many-seeded, covered entirely 
rotate^ five-lobed, lobes plicate ; anthers connivent, opening length- | with the inflated calyx, which remains on till the seeds arc ripe. 
Description, &c. — All the species are remarkable for the inflated bladder-like calyx, which incloses and 
entirely conceals the fruit, and this gives rise to the botanic name of the genus, the word Physa signifying a 
bladder. A very beautiful preparation may be made by macerating the inflated calyx of the common winter 
cherry, so as to leave only the network of veins remaining ; and this has a striking efi^ct, as the bright red fruit 
shines through the network like a large coral or cornelian bead. A preparation of this kind may be easily 
made by soaking the calyx inclosing the fruit for about six weeks in water, without changing the water, and 
then washing the decayed pulp away by shaking the calyx gently in clear water. All that is necessary is 
patience to separate the pulpy matter carefully from the fibrous part, so as to leave the latter quite clear and yet 
unbroken. The fruit is slightly acid and pleasant to eat, not possessing any unwholesome properties, even 
though uncooked, and in tliis respect being quite difi^irent from that of the other genera of the order. The 
species are mostly natives of America. 
