THE WOODY NIGHTSHADE. 
85 
other species mentioned by travellers are Solanum 
melongena, and Solanum incanum. The fruit of the 
former is the famous Poma Sodomitica, found growing 
in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea, which is large 
and handsome; but, the rind being frequently punctured 
by a species of insect, the fruit gangrenes, and is changed 
into a substance like ashes, while the outside, still 
uninjured, presents the most attractive appearance. 
The latter species (Solanum incanum) is thought to be 
the plant to which Isaiah alludes in the fourth verse of 
the fifth chapter of his prophecy. It is common in 
E gypt a nd Palestine; and the Arabian name, answerino 
to wolf-grapes, agrees well with the description. It 
resembles a vine by its shrubby stalk, and greatly infests 
the vineyards ; and, being very injurious to the plants, 
the cultivators root it out with great care. 
“ There is no smell in the Dulcamara when dried; 
but that of the recent plant is heavy and disagreeable. 
The stalks, whether fresh or dried, have a slightly bitter 
taste, followed by a remarkable sweetness, somewhat 
resembling liquorice: a peculiarity which, no doubt, 
suggested the name of Gflycipieros, and Dulcamara, of 
which the English trivial name Bitter-sweet is a just 
translation.” 
