in botany: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandra clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 28th order, Luridae. The calyx is inferior; the corolla is rotate, and generally monophyllous; the fruit a berry, bilocular, and containing many small and flat seeds. Of this genus there are 66 species, most of them natives of the East and West Indies. The most remarkable of which are the following.
1. The Dulcamara, a native of Britain and of Africa is a slender climbing plant, rising to six or more feet in height. The leaves are generally oval, pointed, and of a deep green colour; the flowers hang in loose clusters, of a purple colour, and divided into five pointed segments. The calyx is purple, persistent, and divided into five. The five filaments are short, black, and inserted into the tube of the corolla. The anthera yellow, erect, and united in a point as usual in this genus. The style is long, and terminates in an obtuse stigma. The berry, when ripe, is red, and contains many flat yellowish seeds. It grows in hedges well supplied with water, and flowers about the end of June. On chewing the roots, we first feel a bitter, then a sweet, taste; hence the name. The berries are said to be poisonous, and may easily be mistaken by children for currants. The fibres or younger branches are directed for use, and may be employed either fresh or dried; they should be gathered in the autumn. This plant is generally given in decoction or infusion. Razou directs the following: Take dried dulcamara twigs half a dram, and pour upon it 16 ounces of spring water, which must be boiled down to 8 ounces; then strain it. Three or four tea spoonfuls to be taken every four hours, diluted with milk to prevent its exciting a nausea. Several authors take notice, that the dulcamara partakes of the milder powers of the nightshade, joined to a resolvent and saponaceous quality; hence it promotes the secretions of urine, sweat, the menses, and lochia. It is recommended in a variety of disorders; but particularly in rheumatisms, obstructed menes, and lochia, also in some obstinate cutaneous diseases.
2. The Nigrum, common in many places in Britain about dunghills and waste places. It rises to about two feet in height. The stalk herbaceous, the leaves alternate, irregularly oval, indented, and clothed with soft hairs. The flowers are white; the berries black and shining. It appears to possess the deleterious qualities of the other nightshades in a very high degree, and even the smell of the plant is said to cause sleep. The berries are equally poisonous with the leaves; causing cardiolgia, and delirium, and violent distortions of the limbs in children. Mr Getaker in 1757 recommended its internal use in old sores, in ferulous and cancerous ulcers, cutaneous eruptions, and in dropsies. He says, that one grain infused in an ounce of water sometimes produced a considerable effect; that in the dose of two or three grains it seldom failed to evacuate the first passages, to increase very sensibly the discharges by the skin and kidneys, and sometimes to occasion headach, drowsiness, giddiness, and dimness of sight. Mr Broomfield declares, that in cases in which he tried this solanum, they were much aggravated by it; and that in one case in the dose of one grain it proved mortal to one of his patients; therefore he contends its use is prejudicial. This opinion seems tacitly to be confirmed, as it is now never given internally. In ancient times it was employed externally as a discutent and anodyne in some cutaneous affections, tumefactions of the glands, ulcers, and disorders of the eyes. The solanum nigrum rubrum, a native of the West Indies, is called gumma by the negroes. It is so far from having any deleterious quality, that it is daily served up at table as greens or spinach. It has an agreeable bitter taste.
3. Lycopersicum, the love-apple, or tomato, cultivated in gardens in the warmer parts of Europe and in all tropical... SOLAR pical countries. The stalk is herbaceous, the leaves pinnated, oval, pointed, and deeply divided. The flowers are on simple racemi; they are small and yellow. The berry is of the size of a plum; they are smooth, shining, soft; and are either of a yellow or reddish colour. The tomato is in daily use; being either boiled in soups or broths, or served up boiled as garnishes to flesh-meats.
4. Melongena, the egg-plant, or vegetable egg. This is also cultivated in gardens, particularly in Jamaica. It seldom rises above a foot in height. The stalk is herbaceous and smooth; the leaves oval and downy; the flowers are large and blue; the fruit is as big, and very like, the egg of a goose. It is often used boiled as a vegetable along with animal food or butter, and supposed to be aphrodisiac and to cure sterility.
5. Longum. This plant is also herbaceous, but grows much ranker than the foregoing. The flowers are blue; and the fruit is six or eight inches long, and proportionally thick. It is boiled and eaten at table as the egg-plant.
6. Tuberosum, the common potato. See POTATO.