Botanical Description.--A vine with quadrangular stem. Leaves heart-shaped. Flowers axillary, numerous, in umbels. Calyx deeply cleft in 5 imbricated, ovate, fleshy parts. Corolla bell-shaped, folded. Stamens 5, unequal in height. Ovary inserted on an hypogynous disk, with 2 biovulate compartments. Style same length as stamens. Stigma bilobulate, globose. Seed vessel square, encircled by calyx, 2 locules each with 2 seeds. Habitat.--Common in Bauang and Pasig. Blooms in November. SOLANACEÆ. Nightshade Family. _Solanum nigrum_, L. Nom. Vulg.--_Hierba mora_, Sp.; _Konty_, _Onty_, _Gamagamatisan_, Tag.; _Lagpakon_, _Bolagtob_, _Lubilubi_, Vis.; _Kuty_, _Lubilubi_, Bic.; _Black_ or _Common Nightshade_, Eng. Uses.--In the Philippines the entire plant is boiled and used for food, with the precaution of pouring off the first 2 or 3 waters in which it is cooked, which contain an active principle capable of causing such disagreeable symptoms as vertigo and nausea. A decoction of the leaves serves to cleanse chronic sores and in fact improves their condition; it is also used as a lotion for various forms of dermatitis, for erysipelas and old burns. The plant is narcotic, antispasmodic and like belladonna it dilates the pupil. In India the decoction is given internally, 200-250 grams, for hypertrophy of the liver, and it is considered a good diuretic and alterative. For such uses they heat the above dose in a clay vessel till the color changes from green to brown, when it is cooled and given next day. Its action is diuretic and hydragogue-cathartic. Mooden Sheriff recommends this treatment highly, and for dropsy further advises the aqueous extract, 12 grams during the day divided into 3 or 4 doses. Small doses of 30-60 grams of the decoction prepared as above described, are of use in some chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis. In 1821 Defosses, of Besançon, obtained _solanine_ from the fruit, previously isolated from the _S. Dulcamara_. Botanical Description.--A plant about 2° high, stem straight, 3-4-angled, with white dots. Leaves lanceolate. Flowers white, in 2-ranked racemes. Calyx inferior, 5 persistent teeth. Corolla, 5 petals somewhat down-curved. Berry small, black when ripe. Habitat.--Universally common. Blooms in January. _Capsicum fastigiatum_, Bl. (_C. minimum_, Roxb.) Nom. Vulg.--_Chili picante_, Sp.-Fil.; _Sili_, Tag.; _Capsicum_, _Red Pepper_, etc., Eng. Uses.--The fruit of this species of pepper plant is called _agí_ in Cuba and Porto Rico; it is in common use as a condiment in the Philippines. As a tonic and stimulant it is a useful article of food in hot countries where the digestive functions become sluggish. Used in moderation it prevents dyspepsia and consequent diarrhoea. It is used as a gargle for hoarseness, decreasing the congestion of the larynx and vocal cords. Gargle.-- Tincture of capsicum 8 grams. Water 160 grams. Mix.