344 
LX VII. SOLANACE^E 
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, 1-1 \ 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. ; intrpduced. 
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, f 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, f 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 
7x4 in., coarsely and irregularly lobed and toothed. Flowers 
white, single on short, usually axillary stalks. Calyx tubular, 
1- lf 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 
ending in long, narrow points. Stamens included. Ovary 4-lobed, 
2- celled, covered with short, soft points ; stigma 24obed, oblong. 
Capsule ovoid, about Xf 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. Tatula with purple flowers also occurs at Simla. 
D. fastuosa, Linn. ; is the species common in the plains ; it has larger 
flowers than D. Stramonium. 
