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two or three plants allied to that now under consideration (Petunia violacea). 
In Petunia nyctaginiflora is found the common curved and twisted embryo of 
Solanacese ; but in Petunia violacea, the seeds of which cannot be externally 
distinguished from those of the latter, not even when lying side by side upon 
the field of the microscope, the embryo is perfectly straight and much shorter, 
so that it appears to be of no more than specific importance in this case ; in 
Salpiglossis straminea the embryo is curved and partly spiral ; yet in all other 
characters the genus agrees with Scrophulariacese : finally, in Nicotiana per- 
sica, which no one can doubt being a genuine species of Solanacese, the em- 
bryo is nearly straight. We therefore are obliged to conclude, that a false 
importance has been given to this, as it certainly has to a great many other 
microscopic characters ; a truth which has not escaped the acuteness of Fries. 
But to the plaited corolla and symmetrical flowers there are no exceptions 
that I know of; and these, therefore, I prefer as marks of distinction. 
Solanacese and Scrophulariacese are, however, orders so very nearly related 
in nature, that scarcely any real limits can be expected between them. Where 
they touch, their similarity must almost amount to identity. Nevertheless, as 
the orders are no doubt most tinily and naturally distinct to a great extent, I 
would not for the reasons just mentioned combine them. They should rather 
be considered as the connecting groups of two larger masses of plants, of 
which one has a tendency towards regular flowers and symmetrical stamens, 
and the other a tendency towards irregular flowers and did}Tiamous stamens. 
Geography. Natives of most parts of the world without the arctic and 
antarctic circles, especially within the tropics, in which the mass of the order 
exists, in the form of the genera Solanum and Physalis. 
Properties. At first sight this family would seem to offer a strong ex- 
ception to the general uniformity of structure and property, containing as it 
does the deadly Nightshade and Henbane, and the wholesome Potato and To- 
mato ; but a little inquiry wiU explain this apparent anomaly. Tlie tubers of 
the Potato are well known to be perfectly wholesome when cooked, any nar- 
cotic property which they possess being wholly dissipated by heat. ITiis is 
the case with other succulent underground stems in equally dangerous fami- 
lies, as the Cassava among Euphorbiaceae ; besides which, as De Candolle 
justly observes, — “ II ne faut pas perdre de vue que tous nos alimens renfer- 
ment une petite dose d’un principe excitant, qui, s’il y etait en plus grande 
quantite, pourrait etre nuisible, mais qui y est necessaire pour leur servir de 
condiment naturel.” Tlie leaves of all are narcotic and exciting, but in difi^e- 
rent degrees, from the Atropa Belladonna, which causes vertigo, convulsions, 
and vomiting, the well-known Tobacco, which wiU frequently produce the 
first and last of these symptoms, the Henbane and Stramonium, down to 
some of the Solanum tribe, the leaves of which are used as kitchen herbs. 
The juice of Datura Stramonium is used in the United States, in doses of from 
20 to 30 grains, in cases of epilepsy, or of mania without fever. DC. The 
Quina of Brazil is the produce of Solanum pseudoquina, and is so powerful a 
bitter and febrifuge, that the Brazilians scarcely believe that it is not the ge- 
nuine Jesuits’ Bark. It has been analysed by Vauquelin, who found that it con- 
tained yo of a bitter resinoid matter, slightly soluble in water, about of a 
vegetable bitter, and a number of other principles in minute quantities. Plantes 
Usuelles, 21. The juice of Atropa Belladonna is well known to produce a 
singular dilatation of the pupil of the eye. Duval found that the same property 
exists in Solanums of the Dulcamara tribe, but in a more feeble degree. It is 
in the fruit that the greatest diversity of character exists ; Atropa Belladonna, 
Solanum nigrum, and others, are highly dangerous poisons ; Stramonium, 
Henbane, and Physalis, are narcotic ; the fruit of Physalis Alkekengi is diu- 
retic, for which quality it is employed by veterinary sui’geons ; that of Capsi- 
