Physochlaina
(from physa, a bladder, and chaina, an outer garment; alluding to the inflated calyx). SYN. Belenia. ORD. Solanaceae. A small genus (four species) of hardy, erect, glabrous, perennial herbs, natives of Central Asia. Flowers erect or scarcely drooping, disposed in a loose or dense, terminal corymb; calyx tubular-campanulate, five-fid, including the capsule; corolla funnel-shaped or somewhat campanulate, the limb of five broad, erecto-patent, imbricated lobes. Leaves membranous, entire or sinuated. The three species introduced are very desirable plants, producing their elegant flowers early in the season. They thrive in any ordinary soil, and may be readily increased by cuttings, or by seeds.
P. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. greenish-yellow, with purple markings, drooping; corolla above 1in. long, between campanulate and funnel-shaped, with a spreading mouth; panicle terminal, leafy. March. l. alternate, petiolate, ovate, acute, penninerved, thrice as long as the petiole. Stem glandular-downy. h. 1 1/2ft. Thibet. (B. M. 4600) P. orientalis (Eastern). fl. pale purplish-blue, pedicellate, fasciculately and capitately racemose; calyx much longer than the capsule; corolla widening gradually to the top. March to May. l. petiolate, deltoid-ovate, repand or entire, acute, downy. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Iberia, 1821. (B. M. 2414 and S. B. F. G. 12, under name of Hyoscyamus orientalis.) P. physaloides (Physalis-like).* fl. purplish-violet, pedicellate, terminal, capitately corymbose; calyx much larger than the capsule. March and April. l. petiolate, ovate, acute, somewhat repand or quite entire. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Siberia. 1771. (B. M. 852 and S. B. F. G. 13, under name of Hyoscyamus physaloides.)