100 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
The name of this genus of plants is said to be derived from Arpoivo^ (Atropos), one 
of the three Fates, whose special duty it was to cut the thread of life ; because of its 
deadly effects. 
SPECIES I-ATEOPA BELLADONNA. Linn. 
Plate DCCCCXXXIV. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XX. Tab. MDCXXIX. 
llootstock stoloniferous. Stem thick, herbaceous. Leaves broadly 
ovate-oval, attenuated into short petioles, shortly acuminated or 
acute at the apex, entire. Flowers drooping, solitary, stalked. 
Peduncles from the forks of the stem and the axils of the leaves 
above the forks, at length longer than the calyx. Corolla bell- 
sliaped, with 5 large teeth or lobes, which are subacute and slightly 
re flexed. Plant sub-glabrous. 
In waste places and roadsides, especially near ruins and in 
chalky and limestone districts. Rather rare, and probably planted 
in many of its localities. Sparingly distributed over the greater 
part of England; rare in Scotland, though found as far North as 
the counties of Forfar, Stirling, and Argyle. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 
llootstock thick, fleshy, producing numerous subterranean 
stolons as thick as a man's finger. Stem 2 to 4 feet high, thick, 
simple at the base, dividing usually into 3, more rarely 2 or 4 
branches, which are simple or again forked, or with short branches 
from between the pairs of leaves. Leaves 3 to 10 inches long, 
those on the branches smaller, in pairs alternately from opposite 
sides of the stem, one leaf of each pair much larger than the 
other. Peduncles in the forks of the stem and from between the 
pairs of leaves on the branches ; the inflorescence is thus evidently 
definite, and the stem beyond each flower developed from a lateral 
bud. Calyx 5-clcft ; lobes ovate-acuminate. Corolla about 1 inch 
long, much longer than the calyx, dull-purple tinged with green, 
especially near the base ; lobes slightly unequal, recurved, acute. 
Stamens included; filaments slightly unequal, hooked at the 
apex ; anthers whitish. Style and stigma green. Calyx spreading 
round the base of the purplish-black fruit, which is sub-globular, 
depressed at the apex, and slightly constricted at the junction of 
the carpels. "Whole plant nearly glabrous or sparingly pubescent 
with very short glandular hairs. 
Deadly Nightshade* 
French, BeUadonne Veneneuse. German, Tollkirsche. 
