[Illustration: FIG. 69.--DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (_Atropa Belladonna_).]
The Deadly Nightshade (_Atropa Belladonna_) differs widely from all the preceding genera in having a bell-shaped corolla, (see _a_ in _fig._ 69,) and in the anthers (_b_) not lying close together. It has, however, a permanent calyx and a two-celled berry, like the rest.
The Barbary Box-thorn, or Duke of Argyle's Tea-tree, (_Lycium barbarum_) has a somewhat rotate corolla, with a five-cleft limb, with the stamens inserted between the segments in the same manner as shown in the flower of the _Atropa Belladonna_, represented cut open at _b_ in _fig._ 69. The filaments are hairy at the base, and the anthers are near together, but do not form a cone as in Solanum. The berry is two-celled, and the calyx remains on when it is ripe, as in all the other genera of this order. There are several species of Lycium, which are all known by the English name of Box-thorn; but _L. barbarum_ is also called the Duke of Argyle's Tea-tree, from a story told of this plant being sent to a Duke of Argyle early in the last century, instead of the true Tea-tree. The story, however, is very doubtful; and the more so, as in France, the dwarf Chinese Elm is called Thé de l'Abbé Gallois, as it is said, from a similar cause.
_Cestrum Parqui_ is a very handsome half-hardy shrub, which may be placed in this division from its berry-like fruit. It has a funnel-shaped corolla, with a five-lobed limb, enclosing its five stamens. The flowers are disposed in an upright raceme; they are yellow, and very fragrant. The berries are of a very dark blue, and almost black when ripe. _Vestia_ is another genus very nearly allied to Cestrum, but the stamens project beyond the mouth of the corolla instead of being enclosed within it; and the flowers, which are produced singly, have a very disagreeable smell.
The plants included in this tribe agree with those of the preceding division, in having the corolla generally folded in large plaits in the bud; but they are distinguished by having all capsular fruit: that is, in all the plants belonging to this tribe, the seed-vessel is dry and hard when ripe, and not soft and pulpy like a berry. The species have nearly all funnel-shaped flowers, with a long tube and a spreading limb; the tube is generally very long in proportion to the limb, and it is often inflated, so as to appear much wider in the upper part than near the calyx.