420 



THE SEA SHORE 



The Sea Radish (Raphanus maritimus) is a much larger plant, 

 growing three or four feet in height. In common with the Wild 

 Kadish of our corn-fields, it has a tapering pod divided into one- 

 seeded joints, but it may be distinguished from the latter by its 



superior height and the 

 deeply-divided radical leaves. 

 Its flowers are always yellow, 

 while in the field species they 

 may be either yellow or 

 white ; and the style is also 

 shorter, being about the same 

 length as the last joint of 

 the pod. 



On sandy shores the Sea 

 Eocket (Cakile maritima) is 

 commonly seen, and is 

 readily distinguished by its 

 zigzag branches, deeply-lobed, 

 smooth, fleshy leaves of a 

 glaucous colour, and its suc- 

 culent pod, which is divided 

 into two one-seeded cells by 

 a horizontal partition. It 

 grows from one to two feet 

 high, and bears pretty lilac 

 flowers about midsummer. 



Our last example of the 

 crucifers is the Sea Kale 

 (Crambe maritima), a hardy perennial, commonly seen growing 

 among the sand and shingle of the shore, which is the parent of 

 the sea kale now so commonly cultivated in our market gardens. 

 It may be readily recognised by the fine glaucous bloom of its 

 stem, and its broad wavy toothed leaves of a glaucous grey colour. 

 It grows to a height of about eighteen inches, and bears white 

 flowers in June. The fruit is a two-jointed pouch, the upper being 

 rounded and one-seeded, while the lower is stalk-like and barren. 

 This plant is particularly common in the south-west of England, 

 where the leaves are sometimes blanched for food by burying them 

 in the sand. 



One of the most striking plants of the coast is the Yellow Horned 

 Poppy (Glaucium luteum) of the order Papaveracece, which contains 



FIG. 311. THE SEA ROCKET 



