OF ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 
253 
GENUS YI. 
HYOSCYAMUS, Tourn. THE HENBANE. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx ventricose. Corolla campanulately funnel-shaped. Limb unequal, with one of the segments larger than 
the rest. Stamens inclinate. Capsule immersed in the calyx, operculate. Placentas adnate,—(G. Don.) 
1.—HYOSCYAMUS NIGER, Lin. THE BLACK OR COMMON HENBANE. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot. t. 591,2nd Edit. vol. ii. t. 316; and semi-decurrent, stem-clasping, sinuated. Flowers almost sessile, 
our Jig. 5, in Plate 47. Corolla reticulated. Teeth of the calyx mucronate.—(G. Don.) 
Specific Character. —Clothed with clammy villi. Leaves sessile, 
Description, &c.— The flowers of the Henbane, though not so showy as those of the Datura , are yet 
sufficiently handsome to seem very unsuitable to so poisonous a plant. The leaves, however, have a very strong 
and disagreeable smell, especially when burnt; and it has been observed of them, that when burning, they throw 
out sparks as though they had been sprinkled with salt. No animal can eat this plant with impunity, except 
perhaps the goat; and it is particularly destructive to poultry. It is a narcotic poison like opium, and it is 
used in medicine for the same purposes as that drug. The two plants also resemble each other in another point; 
viz. that the seeds of the Henbane, like those of the poppy, may be eaten with perfect safety. Among the 
medical uses of Henbane is one very remarkable one; it is, that oculists employ extract of Henbane to dilate 
the pupils of the eyes, when they want to perform any operation of peculiar delicacy ; and they apply it by 
dropping a little of the solution into the eye. The pupil in a short time becomes fearfully dilated ; and the effect 
of the Henbane continues several hours, without doing the least injury to the sight. The plant is a native of 
Britain, and it requires no other care than sowing the seeds in March or April in the open border. 
2.—HYOSCYAMUS AUREUS, Lin. THE GOLDEN HENBANE. 
Synonvme.- —H. Creticus, Park. gularly-toothed. Flowers pedicellate; the three larger segments of the 
Engravings. —Bot. Mag. t. 87 ; and our fig. 6, in Plate 47. corolla undulated.— (G. Don.) 
Specific Character.— Leaves petiolate, cordate-ovate, acute, an- 
Description, &c. —A very beautiful species, usually grown as a greenhouse perennial, but which, if treated 
like a tender annual, and raised on a slight hotbed, will flower beautifully in the open air. It is a native of the 
south of Europe, and it was introduced before 1640. The plant is not above a foot high, and it will flower from 
March till October. It is very seldom found in collections; and we do not know where seeds can be obtained. 
OTHER SPECIES OF HYOSCYAMUS. 
H. AGRESTIS, Kit. ; Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. t. 27 ; H. NIGER, Roxb. ; H. NIGER, var. AGRESTIS, Nees. ; H. NIGER, 
var. ANNUUS, Sims. Rot. Mag. t. 2394; H. BOHEMICUM, Schmidt. 
Flowers rather smaller than those of H. niger , and darker in colour. A native of Bohemia, introduced in 
1820 ; probably a variety of H. niger , and requiring the same culture. 
