Solanum (so-la'num)

The typical genus of solanaceous plants. They are herbs or shrubs, or rarely trees, most abundant in the tropics. They furnish many useful drugs and foods. S. carolinense. American horse-nettle; the juice of the berries and the root has been used in epilepsy. S. dulcamara. The young branches, the leaves, and the berries contain solanin and so lane in, and dulcamarin. The root bark is narcotic, but is not used. The term deadly nightshade is sometimes erroneously applied to this species. S. nigrum. Garden nightshade. There are numerous varieties and closely related species. The leaves contain solanin, though authorities differ as to their poisonous character, and also as to that of the berries. They are diaphoretic, diuretic, and mildly purgative.