CLASS PENTANDRIA. 
147 
from the name of the genus Solanum. The general characters of 
these plants are a monopetalous corolla, of a lurid or pale appear¬ 
ance ; five stamens attached to the base of the corolla, and alterna¬ 
ting with its divisions ; leaves alternate. The common potato (So¬ 
lanum tuberosum) is of this natural family; the flowers of this plant 
are large, and the organs very plain for analysis. There is a pecu¬ 
liarity in the appearance of the anthers which it is well to notice; 
these are of an oblong form, thick, and partly united at the top, and 
open at the summit by two pores. The potato was not known in 
Europe until after the discovery of America. In the year 1597, Sir 
Walter Raleigh, on his return from this country, distributed a few 
potatoes in Ireland, where they became numerous, and the cultivation 
of them soon extended into England. It is said that the root of the 
potato is white or red, according to the colour of the flower. The 
little green balls, upon the stalks of this plant, are the pericarps, and 
contain the seed; but this plant is usually produced from the root 
The little knobs called eyes, which yop may notice upon the tubers 
of the potato, are a kind of germ or bud; in planting, the whole root 
is not always put into the ground, but cut into as many pieces as there 
are eyes, each of which produces a plant.* In the same genus with 
the potato, is found the Tomato and the Egg-plant. In the natural 
order Solanse is the Datura stramonium , a large, ill-looking, nause¬ 
ous scented weed ; with a funnel-form, plaited corolla, either white 
or purple ; with broad, dark green leaves ; when the corolla falls off. 
and the germ matures, it then becomes a large, ovate, thorny peri¬ 
carp, often called Thorn-apple; it continues to blossom during the 
summer; is found by the sides ; of roads, around old buildings, and 
in waste grounds. Yet even this disagreeable plant has its uses; 
on account of its narcotic, and other active properties, it is highly 
valuable in medicine. 
In the group of plants we are now considering, is the tobacco, 
(Nicotiana tabacum.) This is a native of America ; it was imported 
into Europe about the middle of the 16th century. It was presented 
to Catherine de Medicis, Queen of France, as a plant from the New 
World, possessing extraordinary virtues. The generic name, Nico¬ 
tiana, is derived from Nicot , the name of the person who carried it 
to France. King James I. of England, had such a dislike to the 
fumes of this plant, that he wrote a pamphlet against its use, called 
“ A Counter-blast to Tobacco.” It is highly narcotic, the excessive 
use of it producing sleep, like opium. The oil of tobacco, when ap¬ 
plied to a wound, is said to be equally fatal as the poison of a viper. 
The Mandrake (Atropa mandragora) was much used by the an¬ 
cients as an opiate; they had many absurd notions respecting this 
plant; they fancied in its roots, which are very large and of a pecu¬ 
liar appearance, a resemblance to the human form, and thought 
that some judgment from heaven-would follow those who took them 
out of the ground. This superstition is not unlike that which is dis¬ 
covered, even in the present day, b}^ those w 7 ho are unwilling to sow 
fennel, through fear of “ sowing sorrow.” Perhaps those very per¬ 
sons who would fear to perform an act so innocent as the taking a 
root from the ground, or putting seeds into it, would have no dread 
of the anger of God for the violation of his commands. 
* This is more properly a continuation of the plant, than a reproduction ;— it is 
found that the vegetable thus continued, appears, in process of time, to degenerate, 
and it is necessary to renew the race by reproducing it from seed. 
Describenhe potato—What other plants are in the genus Solanum?—Datura To¬ 
bacco-Mandrake. 
