Flora Medica

SOLANACEJE.1083. N. persica Lindl. Bot. t.Reg. 1592. Persia.A viscid, downy, branching annual. Radical leaves oblong-spathulate,cauline sessile, half amplexicaul, acuminate. Calyxes acutely 5-cleft;flowers white, sweet-scented ; tube of the corolla hypocrateriform,slender, clavate ; throat ventricose ; segments of the limb ovate, etnarginate,somewhat unequal. Produces the delicate and fragrantTobacco of Shiraz.CRESCENTIA.Calyx 2-leaved, equal, deciduous. Corolla campanulate, witha fleshy tube much shorter than the ventricose, 5-cleft, unequal,crisped limb. Stamens 4, didynamous, with the rudiment of afifth. Fruit gourd-like, 1- celled, with a solid shell, internallypulpy, many-seeded.1084. C. Cujete Linn, sp.pl. 872. Jacq. amer. 175. t. 111.Hot. Mag. t. 3430. West India islands, and Spanish Main.(Calabash tree.)A tree, according to Jacquin, 20 feet in height, readily distinguishedfrom all others by its peculiar habit : for it sends out large, horizontal,scarcely divided branches, which bear fascicles of leaves at various distances.These leaves are from 4 to 6 inches in length, broadly lanceolate,somewhat acute, entire, tapering at the base, but destitute ofpetiole. Peduncles, in general from the older portions of the trunk,or branches, solitary, rarely 2 or 3 together, decurved, bearing a single,pendent flower of a large size, and, though varying somewhat in colour,generally of a yellowish-green, more or less streaked, or veined withreddish lines. The calyx is large, of 2 roundish, or oval, green, concavelobes. Corolla large, somewhat campanulate, with a remarkable constrictionbelow the middle, above which it becomes ventricose, and atthe mouth cut into 5, much crisped and waved, sharp, but rather unequalsegments, which are at length reflexed : it does not readily fallaway, but decays upon the peduncle, and then gives out a very disagreeablesmell. Stamens 4, didynamous, sometimes 5, shorter than thecorolla. Anthers of 2 oblong lobes, spreading at their base. Ovaryovate, surrounded by a large, fleshy, yellowish ring. Style rather longerthan the corolla :stigma 2-lobed. Fruit, according to authors, an ovalor round berry, large, externally coriaceous, 1-celled, containing a copious pulp, in which are imbedded several cordate, compressed seeds,which are said to have 2 cells. Hooker. From the pulp of the fruit,a syrup is prepared in the West Indies having a great reputation as apectoral medicine, and as a remedy for internal bruises. Dr. Wrightrecommends the pulpas an excellent poultice for bruises and inflam-514