Physochlaina

Physochlaina
Physochlaina orientalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Subfamily:	Solanoideae
Tribe:	Hyoscyameae
Genus:	Physochlaina G. Don
Species
6-10 see text

6-10 see text

Physochlaina is a small genus of herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the nightshade family, Solanaceae, found principally in the north-western provinces of China (and regions adjoining these in the Himalaya and Central Asia) although one species occurs in Western Asia, while another is found as far east as those regions of Siberia abutting the eastern borders of Mongolia and also not only in Mongolia itself, but also the Chinese autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. The genus is a valuable one, since its species are not only of considerable medicinal value, being rich in tropane alkaloids, but also of ornamental value, three species having been grown for the purpose, although hitherto infrequently outside botanical gardens. Furthermore, the genus contains a species (P. physaloides - recorded in older literature under the synonyms Hyoscyamus physaloides and Scopolia physaloides) formerly used as an entheogen in Siberia.

The name Physochlaina is a compound of the Greek words phuson, 'bladder' and chlaina, 'robe' / 'outer garment' / 'blanket' - conveying the meaning 'enrobed in a bladder' - in reference to the calyces of the plants, which become enlarged and sometimes bladder-like in fruit - like those of the much better known Solanaceous genera Physalis, Withania and Nicandra. The variant spelling Physochlaena - as employed by Professor Eva Schönbeck-Temesy in her section on the Solanaceae for Flora Iranica - appears first on page 737 of Volume 22 of the German-language journal Linnaea for the year 1849.

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Wikipedia