( 3714 ) 
TROPXOLUM TUBEROSUM. LARGE-ROOTED 
InDIAN-CRESS. 
Class and Order. 
OcranpriaA Monoeynia. 
( Nat. Ord.—TRorrotez. ) 
Generic Character. 
Cal. 5-partitus, lobo sup. calcarato. Pet. 5 ineequalia, 
3 inferiora minora aut evanida. Stam. 8 ab ipsa basi libe- 
ra. Carpella 3 monosperma suberosa, reniformia, indehis- 
centia hinc sulcata rotundata. 
Specific Character and Synonyms. 
Tropzotum tuberosum ; foliis peltatis 5-lobis basi transver- 
sim truncatis glabris lobis rotundato-cuneatis trunca- 
tis, petalis calycem vix excedentibus integerrimis. 
Tropzoium tuberosum. Ruiz et Pav. Fl. Per. ». 3. p. 77. 
t. 314. f.6. Humb. et Kunth, Nov. Gen. Am. 2. 5. p. 
251. De Cand. Prodr. v.1. p. 684. Spreng. Syst. 
Veget. 0.2. p. 226. 
This interesting species of Indian Cress, of which the 
large tuberous roots are abundantly eaten by the Peru- 
vians (according to Ruiz and Pavon), and, indeed, form a 
daily article of food, was first known to me by specimens 
transmitted from Peru, by Mr. Marnews. They are No. 
402 of his Peruvian Collection. In 1836, my friend, Joun 
M‘Lean, Esq., sent the esculent tubers to Mr. Murray of 
the Glasgow Botanic Garden, by whom the species has been 
largely distributed. It proves quite hardy, but our summers 
are scarcely long enough, without a little previous forcing, 
to perfect the flowers before the frosts come on ; so that its 
blossoms have been produced only in few collections. — 
The | 
