844 
LXVII. SOL AN ACE 
Nicandra physaloides, Gaertn.; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 240. An 
annual, erect, glabrous herb, 1-3 ft. Leaves stalked, ovate-lance- 
olate, 4-8 in., irregularly, sinuately lobed and toothed. Flowers 
blue, 1-1J in. diam., single on recurved, usually axillary stalks. 
Calyx lobed nearly to the base ; segments ovate, cordate, acute. 
Corolla bell-shaped ; limb spreading, 5-lobed. Filaments hairy, 
bases dilated, covering the ovary. Ovary 5-celled ; style linear, 
stigma 5-lobed, lobes cohering. Berry globose, \ in. diam., loosely 
enclosed by the enlarged, membranous, net-veined, 5-angled calyx. 
Simla, roadsides, common ; July-September. — Temperate Himalaya, 3000- 
6000 ft. ; introduced. 
5. ATROPA. From the Greek Atropos, the Fate who was 
fabled to cut the thread of life ; referring to the poisonous pro- 
perties of the plants. — W. Asia, Europe. 
Atropa Belladonna, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 241. An erect, 
glandular-pubescent or nearly glabrous herb, 2-3 ft. Leaves 
stalked, ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 in., entire, long-pointed ; upper ones 
usually with a much smaller leaf springing from the same point. 
Flowers pale purple, tinged with yellow or green, £ in. diam., 
single on drooping, usually axillary stalks. Calyx lobed nearly to 
the base ; segments leaf-like. Corolla bell-shaped ; lobes 5, short, 
broad, spreading. Bases of filaments hairy, dilated, covering the 
ovary. Ovary 2-celled ; style longer than the corolla, stigma 
green. Berry globose, £ in. diam., purple-black, surrounded at 
the base by the enlarged, spreading calyx. 
Narkunda, in forest ; August, September. — W. Himalaya, 6000-11,000 ft. — 
W. Asia, Europe (Britain, Dwale, Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade). 
6. DATURA. From Dhatura, the Oriental name of D.fastuosa. 
— Temperate and tropical regions. 
Datura Stramonium, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 242. An annual, 
erect, nearly glabrous herb, 2-4 ft. Leaves stalked, ovate, about 
7 x 4 in., coarsely and irregularly lobed and toothed. Flowers white, 
single on short, usually axillary stalks. Calyx tubular, 1-1 J in., 
5-toothed, 5-ribbed. Corolla funnel-shaped, 3-6 in. long ; limb 
spreading, 1-3 in. across, 5-lobed, folding at the angles, lobes end- 
ing in long, narrow points. Stamens included. Ovary 4-lobed, 
2-celled, covered with short, soft points ; stigma 2-lobed, oblong. 
Capsule ovoid, about 1| x 1 in., covered with rigid, sharp prickles, 
surrounded at the base by the enlarged, reflexed, lower part of the 
calyx, ultimately 4-celled in the lower portion, opening nearly 
to the base by 4 valves ; seeds wrinkled. 
Simla, on waste ground ; June-October.— Temperate Himalaya, 3000-8000 
ft. — Nearly all temperate and warm regions (Britain, a casual weed, Thorn Apple). 
Var. T alula with purple flowers also occurs at Simla. 
D. fastuosa, Linn. ; is the species common in the plains ; it has larger 
flowers than D. Stramonium. 
