240 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
THE LARGE-FLOWERED MULLEIN. (V. virgatum, Withering.) 
This very handsome species grows five or six feet high, with an immensely thick stem, and large yellow 
flowers. It is a biennial, and is rather rare. 
THE MOTH MULLEIN. (V. Blattaria, Lin.) 
The flowers of this species are rather small, but of a beautiful yellow, and very elegant form. It is an 
annual, and it is most abundant in Cornwall and Devonshire. It produces a succession of flowers from July 
to November. 
GENUS IV. 
THE NIGHTSHADE. (Solanum, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx persistent, with from five to ten ' or six. Anthers oblong, opening by two pores at the apex. Berry 
divisions. Corolla monopetalous, rotate; the tube very short; the j roundish, with two, three, four, or six cells. Embryo spiral. (Dee.) 
limb spreading, with four, five, or six divisions. Stamens four, five, 
Description, &c. —This genus is remarkable from the peculiarity of its containing the potato, so well 
known as an article of food, and the poisonous berries of the different kinds of Nightshade. The name of 
Solanum is of doubtful origin, though some suppose it to allude to the solace afforded by the nourishment 
contained in the tuberous root of the potato. The two British species, however, are both poisonous. 
1.—THE BITTElt-SWEET, OR WOODY NIGHTSHADE. (Solanum Dulcamara, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 365 ; 2nd ed., t. 318 ; and our fig. 4, in PI 45. 
Specific Character. —Stem shrubby, zigzag, without thorns. Upper leaves hastate. Clusters cymose. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This very elegant climbing shrub is common in hedges in moist places, where it produces 
a succession of flowers and fruit, some of both being on the plant at the same time, from June till September. 
Every part of this plant is poisonous when taken incautiously, but the root and young branches are used 
medicinally by those who are well acquainted with their properties. The names of Dulcamara and Bitter-Sweet 
both allude to the fruit tasting first sweet, and then bitter. 
THE GARDEN NIGHTSHADE. (S. nigrum, Lin.) 
This species generally grows on dunghills, or other places where the soil is at the same time neglected and 
rank. It is usually considered an annual, but sometimes it lives two or more years. The flowers, which are 
white, are produced in succession from June till September; the plant bearing at the same time its berries, 
which are black, instead of being red, as in the Bitter-Sweet. 
GENUS V. 
THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. (Atropa, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx campanulate, five-cleft. Corolla campanulate, twice as long as the calyx, five-lobed, equal. Filaments five, 
filiform. Berry globose, seated in the calyx. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —There is only one species in this genus, and that is the Dwale or Deadly Nightshade 
