PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Five Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx 5-fidus. Corolla rotata, limbo 5-fido, patente: tubo brevi. Antheræ oblongæ, conniventes, apice poris geminis, dehiscentes. Stigma obtusum. Bacca sub-rotunda.
Empalement 5-cleft. Blossom wheel-shaped. Border 5-cleft, spreading. Tube short. Chives oblong, leaning together, with holes in pairs at the point, and splitting. Stigma obtuse. Berry nearly round.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Solanum caule inermi, scandente, herbaceo: foliis pinnatis, undulatis: junioribus lanceolatis: floribus in racemo, aut ramo cymoso, ab axillis foliorum: corollis carneis.
Nightshade with an unarmed stem, climbing and herbaceous. Leaves pinnated, and waved: the younger ones lance-shaped. Flowers grow in a raceme, or cymose branch, from the axillæ of the leaves. Blossom flesh-colour.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. Empalement and pointal, summit magnified.
2. A blossom spread open.
Throughout this extended genus there are but few which possess attractions equal to this new and undescribed species of Solanum. It was introduced by Lord Seaforth from the West Indies; and although brought from so warm a climate, it succeeds best in the conservatory. It approaches nearest in its general appearance to the S. radicans of Linnæus, but Mr. Lambert informs me that it is not at all inclined to root, like that species. The specimen which our figure represents was sent to us in fine bloom by Mr. J. Milne, botanic gardener.[Pg 25]