Refugium Botanicum.} April, 1870. 
TAB. 207. 
Natural Order SoLANACES. 
Genus Souanum, Linn. 
Section LreprosTEMuUM. 
Sub-sect. ACANTHOPHORA (see Tab. 87). 
S. ATROPURPUREUM (Schrank, Syll. Pl. Nov. Ratisb. 1824, p. 200). 
Ramis glabris nitidis atro-purpureis aculeatissimis, aculeis rectis 
deflexis lateraliter compressis valde inequalibus, foliis deltoideis 
profunde pinnatifidis utrinque glabris vel subglabris, petiolis 
exalatis, cymis laxis 4—6-floris, baccis magnis glabris globosis.— 
Sendt. in Fl. Bras. v. 62; Dunal in D.C. Prodr. xiii. 242. 
A native of the southern provinces of Brazil. 
A copiously-branched erect shrub several feet high, the 
branches erecto-patent, like the spines a shining dark purple, 
quite glabrous. Prickles very dense and unequal, not very strong, 
straight, slender, deflexed, laterally compressed, the largest quite 
an inch long. Petioles prickly, not winged, the lower ones twelve 
to eighteen lines long. Leaves herbaceous, quite or nearly 
glabrous, bright green above, rather paler below, subdeltoid, five 
to six inches long, deeply pinnatifid, the upper divisions lanceo- 
late, entire, the lower ones more or less toothed, the mid-rib and 
main veins on both sides more or less prickly. Flowers four to 
six together in shortly pedunculated axillary cymes. Pedicels 
prickly, three to nine lines long. Calyx glabrous, prickly, two 
to three lines deep, deeply five-cleft with lanceolate-deltoid 
ascending lobes. Corolla yellowish, five to six lines deep, split 
nearly to the base. Berry half an inch in thickness, globose, 
quite glabrous. 
Tab. 207.—1, entire flower; 2, stamen; 3, flower with corolla and 
stamens removed; 4, ovary; 5, horizontal section of the same: all 
magnified,—J. G. B. 
This is a very ornamental plant for foliage, from the peculiar 
and abundant way the stems and leaves are clothed with long 
dark purple spines. It does well in the open borders during the 
summer months, in situations protected from the wind, and 
should have a warm greenhouse treatment in the winter. It 
should be propagated by seeds sown in heat, or cuttings struck 
in a warm temperature.—W. W. S. 
