Solan um 
is sometimes extended to several other European species. 
For S. Dulcamara, the bittersweet, the other common spe- 
cies of the northeastern I'nited states, a climber intro- 
duced lor ornament, see niyhtshade./elouuiort, dulcamara 
and dulcamariti. Two others in the United States are of 
importance as prickly weeds, S. CartOnam (for which see 
hme-nettle), a pest which has sometimes caused fields in 
Delaware to be abandoned, and S. rostratum (for which 
see gaud-bur), of abundant growth on the plains beyond 
the Mississippi, and known as the chief food of the Colo- 
rado beetle or potato-bug before the introduction of the 
potato westward. The genus is one of strongly marked 
properties. A few species with comparatively inert foliage 
have been used as salads, as 5. nodiflorum in the West 
Indies and S. semlijlttrum in Brazil; but the leaves of 
most, as of the common potato, bittersweet, and night- 
shade, are more or less powerfully narcotic. (See solanine.) 
The roots leaves, seeds, and fruit-juices yield numerous 
remedies of the tropics ; S. jubatum is strongly sudorific : 
S. pseudoauina is a source of quina in Brazil, a powerful 
bitter and febrifuge ; others are purgative or diuretic, as 
S. panKiilatum, the jerubeba of Brazil ; S. stramontfolmm 
is used as a poison in Cayenne. The berries are often 
edible, as in the well-known S. Melongena (S. esculentum) 
(for which see egg-plant, brinjal, and aubergine). Others 
with edible fruit are S. amculare (see kangaroo-apple), S. 
Upon, the cannibal-apple or borodina of the Fiji and other 
Pacific islands, with large red fruit used like the tomato, 
S. vesmm, the gunyang of southeastern Australia, S. album 
and S. Jlthiopicum, cultivated in China and southern Asia, 
S. Gilo in tropical America, S. muricatum, the pepino or 
melon-pear of Peru, and S. racemasum in the West Indies. 
S. Quitoense, the Quito orange, yields a fruit resembling a 
small orange in color, fragrance, and taste. S. Indicum 
(S. Anguioi) is known as Madagascar potato, and S. criepum 
of Chj)i as potato-tree. Some species bear an inedible fruit, 
as S. mmnmomm, the macaw-bush (which see), also called 
tusumber and (together with S. toman) turkey-berry. For 
S. Bahamense, see cankerberry, and for S. Sodomxtim, see 
Sodom-apple. Other species yield dyes, as S. gnaphalioidet 
in Peru and S. Vespertilio in the Canaries, used to paint the 
face ; S. Guineense, used to dye silk violet ; and S. indigo- 
ferum, in cultivation in Brazil for indigo. S. margina- 
tum is used in Abyssinia to tan leather ; and the fruit of 
S. saponaceum is used as soap in Peru. Several species 
have been long cultivated as ornaments for their abun- 
dant red or orange berries, as S. Pseudo-capsicum, the 
Jerusalem cherry or winter-cherry (see cherryi), and the 
Brazilian 5. Capsicagtrum, the dwarf winter-cherry or star- 
capsicum. Many others are now cultivated as ornamental 
plants, and are known by the generic name Solanum, as 
S. Kargtenii, from Venezuela, with violet flowers ; S. beta- 
ceum, a small pink-flowered fleshy South American tree 
with fine scarlet egg-like fruit ; and 5. lanceolatum, with 
narrow willow-like leaves, reputed the most showy bloom- 
ing species. Others are cultivated for their conspicuous 
foliage, as S. crinitum and S. macranthum, with leaves 2J 
feet long ; S. robustum, clad in showy red down ; and S. 
Warsceiviczii, with handsome flowers and large leaves ele- 
gantly cut. The climber S. jaminoides t the jasmine-sola- 
num, is a house-plant from Brazil, esteemed for its large 
and abundant clusters of fragrant white or bluish flowers. 
solar 1 (so'lar), a. [= F. solaire = Sp. Pg. solar 
= It. solare, < L. Solaris, of the sun, solar, < sol, 
the sun: see so? 1 .] 1. Of , pertaining or related 
to, or determined by the sun : as, the solar sys- 
tem ; solar light ; solar rays ; solar influence. 
To make the solar and lunary year agree. 
Raleigh, Hist. World, ii. 3. 
His soul proud science never taught to stray 
Far as the solar walk or milky way. 
Pope, Essay on Man, i. 102. 
2. In astrol., born under the predominant in- 
fluence of the sun ; influenced by the sun. 
The cock was pleased to hear him speak so fair, 
And proud beside, as tolar people are. 
Bryden, Cock and Fox, 1. 652. 
Solar apex, the point in space, situated in the constella- 
tion Hercules, toward which the sun is moving. Solar 
asphyxia. Same as sunstroke. So- 
lar boiler, an apparatus for utilizing 
the heat of the sun's rays in the heat- 
ing of water and the production of 
steam. Solar caloric engine. Same 
as solar engine. Solar camera, 
chronometer. See the nouns. So- 
lar constant, the number which ex- 
presses the quantity of radiant heat 
received from the sun by the outer 
layer of the earth's atmosphere in a 
unit of time. As shown by the re- 
searches of Langley, its value is prob- 
ably somewhat over three (small) calo- 
ries per minute for a square centime- 
ter of surface normal to the sun's rays. 
See calory and sun. Solar cooking- 
apparatus, an arrangement for cook- 
ing food by the heat of the sun's rays. 
It consists essentially of a cooking- 
vessel inclosed in a glass frame, upon 
which the solar rays are directed by 
reflectors. Solar cycle. Seecyclel. 
Solar day. See dayi, 3. Solar 
deity, in myth., a deity of the sun, or 
personifying some of the attributes or 
characteristics of the sun, or of the 
sun's action. A familiar example is 
the Greek Apollo or Helios. Solar 
deities play an important part in the 
Egyptian Solar mythology of ancient Egypt, the chief 
Deity. Bronze figu- of them being Ba, the supreme power 
for S od - The Egyptian solar deities 
? re c nnnly distinguished in art by 
politan Museum of bearing upon their heads the solar 
Art, New York. disk. See also cut under Apollo, and 
compare solarism. Solar eclipse 
See eclipse, 1. Solar engine, an engine in which steam 
for motive power is generated by direct solar heat concen- 
trated by lenses or by reflectors upon a steam-generator 
solary 
live view of the planets. For further Information, see the 
proper names. 
Sc- 
3 
S 
. 
Ill 
Mean distat 
from sun i 
millions o: 
miles. 
Diameter 
in thousalK 
of miles. 
Massrclati 
to earth. 
ft 
iff 
Mercury 
88 
36 
3 
0.1 
7.2 
i 
Venus . . . 
225 
67 
7 
0.8 
5.2 
? 
Earth .... 
M 
M 
8 
1.0 
6.7 
24 
Mars 
687 
141 
4 
0.1 
4.0 
26 
Jupiter . . 
4333 
482 
88 
317.0 
1.8 
10 
Saturn . . . 
10759 
883 
75 
94.9 
0.6 
10 
Uranus . 
30687 
1778 
30 
14.7 
1.4 
f 
Neptune . 
80127 
2786 
37 
17.1 
0.9 
? 
lu 
days. 
Sun 
860 
1.4 
26 
From 
earth. 
Moon . . 
0.24 
2 
A 
8.5 
27 
as in Mouchot's solar engine, or in which direct solar heat 
is concentrated upon the cylinder of a hot-air or caloric 
engine, as in the solar engine of Ericsson. Solar equa- 
tion. See equation. Solar eyepiece, a helioscope; an 
eyepiece suitable for observing the sun. In the ordinary 
form, devised by Sir John Herschel, the sunlight is reflect- 
ed at right angles by a transparent plane surface which 
allows most of the light and heat to pass through, so that 
only a thin shade-glass is needed. In the more perfect 
polarization-helioscopes of Merz and others the light is 
polarized by reflection at the proper angle from one or 
more glass surfaces, and afterward modified in intensity 
at pleasure by reflection at a second polarizing surface, or 
by transmission through a Nicol prism which can be ro- 
tated. Solar fever, dengue. Solar flowers, flowers 
which open and shut daily at certain determinate hours. 
Solar ganglion. Same as solar plexus. Solar hour. 
See hour. Solar lamp, (a) Same as Argand lamp 
(which see, under lampi). (b) An electric lamp of the 
fourth class Solar microscope. See microscope. 
Solar month. See month, 2. Solar myth, in compar. 
myth., a myth or heroic legend containing or supposed to 
contain allegorical reference to the course of the sun, and 
used by modern scholars to explain the Aryan mytholo- 
gies. The fable of Apollo and Daphne is an example. 
Solar observatory, an astronomical observatory special- 
ly equipped for the study of solar phenomena. The ob- 
servatory at Meudon, near Paris, is an example, Solar 
physics, the study of the physical phenomena presented 
by the sun. Solar plexus, in anat. See plexus. Also 
called brain of the beuy. Solar print, in photog., a pho- 
tographic print made in a solar camera from a negative. 
It is usually an enlargement, and is so called to distin- 
guish it from an ordinary photo- print made by direct con- 
tact in a printing-frame, or otherwise. Solar promi- 
nence or protuberance. See TOW. Solar radiation. 
See radiatwn. Solar-radiation register, an apparatus 
for automatically registering the times during which the 
sun is shining. Solar salt, sea-salt; bay-salt Solar 
spectrum. See spectrum, 3, and cut under absorption. 
Solar spots. See sun-spot. Solar system, in aslron., 
the system consisting of the sun and the bodies revolving 
round it (and those revolving round them) or otherwise 
Solar System, showing especially the orbits of the four outer planets. 
dependent upon it. To this system belong the planets, 
planetoids, satellites, comets, and meteorites, which all 
directly or indirectly revolve round the central sun the 
opashn Met 
Solar System, showing the orbits of the four inner planets. 
whole being bound together by the mutual attractions of 
the several parts. The following table gives a compara- 
Solar telegraph. See telegraph. Solar theory. See 
solarism. Solar time. Sam e as apparent time. See time . 
Solar walk, the zodiac. Solar year. See year. 
solar 2 (so'lar), n. See sollar. 
solar 3 (so'lar), n. See sola 2 . 
Solariidae (so-la-ri'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Solari- 
um + -idfe.] A family of pectiniforanchiate 
gastropods, typified by the genus Solarium. 
The animal has the tentacle's nearly united at the base ; 
eyes on the upper part of the outer side of their base ; the 
proboscis long, cylindrical, completely retractile ; and the 
shell conical and generally declivous from the apex, with 
carinated margin of the last whorl, and a deep umbilical 
cavity, recalling a spiral staircase. The species inhabit 
tropical seas. They are rather large and generally hand- 
some shells, some of which are common parlor ornaments. 
See cut under .Solarium. 
solarioid (so-la'ri-oid), a. [< Solarium + -oid.] 
Of, or having characters of, the Solariidx. 
solariplex (so-lar'i-pleks), n. The solar plexus 
(which see, under plexus). Coves, 1887. 
solarism (so'lar-izm), n. [< sotar 1 + -im.] Ex- 
clusive or excessive explanation of mythology 
by reference to the sun ; over-addiction to the 
assumption of solar myths. Gladstone, in Pop. 
Sci. Mo., XXVIII. 634. 
solarist (so'liir-ist), n. [< solar 1 + -ist.] An 
adherent of the doctrine of solarism. Glad- 
atone, in Pop. Sci. Mo., XXVIII. 876. 
solarium (so-la'ri-um), n. [< L. solarium, a 
sun-dial, a part of a house exposed to the sun, 
< Solaris, of the sun: see solar 1 .'] 1. A sun- 
dial, fixed or portable. See dial, poke-dial, ring- 
dial, sun-dial. 2. A place arranged to receive 
the sun's rays, usually a flat house-top, ter- 
race, or open gallery, formerly used for plea- 
sure only, but in modern times commonly as an 
adjunct of a hospital or sanatorium, in which 
case it is inclosed with glass; a room arranged 
with a view to giving patients sun-baths. 
3. [cap.] [NL. (Lamarck, 1799).] The typical 
genus of Solariidx, containing the staircase- 
shells, as the per- 
spective shell, S. 
perspectivum. They 
nave a much depressed 
but regularly conic 
shell, angular at the 
periphery, and with a 
wide spiral umbilicus 
which has suggested 
the idea of a spiral 
stairway. 
SOlarization (s6"lar-i-za'shon), n. [= F. solari- 
sation; as solarize + -ation.] 1. Exposure to the 
action of the rays of the sun. 2. Inphotog., 
the injurious effects produced on a negative by 
over-exposing it in the camera to the light of 
the sun, as blurring of outlines, obliteration of 
high lights, loss of relief, etc. ; also, the effects 
on a print resulting from over-printing the sen- 
sitized paper or other medium. 
solarize (so'lar-iz), v. ; pret. and pp. solarized. 
ppr. solarizing. [= F. solariser; as solar 1 + 
-ize.~\ I. intrans. Inphotog., to become in jured 
by too long exposure to the action of light. 
It is a familiar fact that iodide of silver solarizes very 
easily that is, the maximum effect of light is quickly 
reached, after which its action is reversed. 
Lea, Photography, p. 137. 
II. trans. 1. To affect by sunlight; modify 
in some way by the action of solar rays. 
A spore born of a solarized bacillus is more susceptible 
to the reforming influence than its parent was. 
Science, VI. 475. 
2. In photog., to affect injuriously by exposing 
too long to light. 
SOlary (so'la-ri), a. [< ML. "Solaris (used only 
as a noun), pertaining to the ground or soil, < 
L. solum, the ground, soil: see soil 1 .] Of or be- 
longing to the ground. [Rare.] 
Staircase-shell (Solanittti fersfet- 
tfvum). 
