HYOSCYAMUS NI GER, 
COMMON HENBANE. 
Class Order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
SOLANE-®. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Inhabits 
Britain. 
2 feet. 
July, Aug. 
Biennial. 
Barren pi. 
No. 172. 
Hyoscyamus is derived from the Greek, us, a 
hog; and kuamos, a bean; a name supposed to 
have been adopted from the shape of the capsule, 
and a referrence to hogs ; on account of the herb 
•being innoxious to these animals, whilst to others it 
is poisonous : or perhaps, from some occasion, error, 
or incident, now unknown. Some writers have 
contradicted the statement of its qualities being in- 
offensive to swine, or any other animals; if, there- 
fore, any of our readers can from experience, 
assert facts relative to this question, we shall be 
happy to put them on record. It is said to be de- 
structive to poultry, hence its designation, Henbane. 
Niger, from the Latin, black ; in allusion to the 
colour of the seeds. 
The Hyoscymus niger is not only interesting 
as a medicinal plant, but is otherwise worthy of 
cultivation. Its flowers have not much gaiety of 
character, but they possess an exquisite delicacy of 
pencilling, which compensates for the absence of 
brilliant colouring. The capsules continue on the 
stem during the winter, and as they are covered with 
a tolerably permanent lid, the seed is preserved and 
