NIGHTSHADE 
95 
LEAVES— Size, relatively small. Shape, irregu¬ 
lar, having' 5 or more lobes when full-grown. 
Colour, dark green. Number, small in comparison 
with number of stems and flower-tips. 
FLOWERS- -Arrangement, in clusters around the 
tips of the numerous long stems. Size, the individ¬ 
ual flowers are very small. Colour, 5 mauve- or 
lilac-coloured petals. Stalks, very short. 
NOTE—The plant presents the appearance of a 
maze of slender stems, each tipped with an inch or 
more of tiny lilac flowers. By the wayside, the 
beauty of these is usually marred by a covering of 
dust. 
NIGHTSHADE 
GENERAL-—Also called "Deadly Nightshade” 
and ‘‘Black Nightshade.” Chiefly found as a weed 
in gardens, and in suitable ground becomes a shrub, 
18 inches or more in height. It is common in all 
parts of New Zealand. 
LEAVES —Shape, broad, heart-shaped, with bats¬ 
wing edges and prominent veins on under surface. 
Leaf has its widest part at the ends of the two 
veins furthest from the leaf tip, which is pointed. 
(See illustration on cover.) Colour, dark green. 
Number, relatively large for size of plant. 
FLOWERS—Cluster of small white flowers, 5 
petals, sometimes having a purplish tinge. Size, \ 
inch diameter. 
_ __ _ * _ 
BERRIES—-The flowers are succeeded by dark 
green juicy berries, which become quite black when 
ripe, and are seen in clusters of from three to seven 
berries in each cluster. 
G 
