70 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [Crucifere. 
medicine, and known by the names of white, purple, and yellow: khueree, or, as. com- 
monly written, cheiri. In the plains of India, but few species of this family are met 
with. Nasturtium officinale, growing in the vicinity of water in most parts of the world, 
seems to be found in alli parts.of India, though the natives,ascribe its introduction to the 
English. I have found it near Hurdwar; Dr.Wallich met with it im: Rohileund. . Lepi- 
dium sativum belonging to a genus, of which species are found in Syria, Arabia, and 
Persia, has long been known and cultivated in India. From themedicinal and dietetic 
uses, as well as from the Arabic and Persian synonymes of this’ plant, it,is:probable that 
it was introduced into India from Caubul or Persia, where also we must look for the route 
by which the cabbage, radish, and turnip, have found their way into Thdia, as all were 
known and cultivated there long before they. could have been introduced by Europeans. 
[have received the seeds of all from Cashmere, and grown them-in the Botanic Garden 
of Saharunpore. The turnips, moreover, in Kunawur, are described as being remarkably 
fine. Besides these, which are confined to gardens or the neighbourhood of villages, 
there are other species of this family, which form very extensive agricultural crops, but, 
like the former, only during the cold weather months. The majority of these have been 
referred to the genus Sinapis, and one species, which agrees very closely with Brassica 
erucastrum, to both Brassica and) Eruca:; this:is:called' tira’; a variety apparently of the 
same.is cultivated in the hills. The species: or varieties referred to Sinapis. still require 
careful revision. Sinapis ramosa of Dr. Roxburgh appears to be the species which is 
called race, Indian mustard, and is much: used:as:a condiment. S. glauca may be the 
toria, S. dichotoma the kalee-surson, and \S.. juncea the. bunga-surson ; the three latter, 
as well as ¢ira and Sesamum orientale, being extensively cultivated for the oil which is 
afforded by their seeds, as the natiyes of the) greater. part.of India depend upon.them 
chiefly for oil for burning in lamps, as well as’ for that necessary for dietetical. purposes, 
Some other species are described as ‘being indigenous to: and growing wild in India; 
but regarding all there is some uncertainty, and though: there is.no doubt. that the 
cultivated species have been long acclimated; yet having only been met with. in that 
state, their native country must still be considered undetermined: But though there is 
this uncertainty respecting the cultivated: Crucifere, species of this family are no doubt. 
found in the plains of India: of this a curious instance is the existence of a species 
of Farsetia, in the neighbourhood of Delhi and Agra, where. it was first found by 
Dr. Hamilton, and subsequently by myself in the same locality. The, existence of. the 
Species of this genus: only in Syria, Egypt, and north of India,;may be considered as 
confirmatory: of the opinion stated, p. 7, that the Oriental. or Persian, or. better,. as 
Professor Lindley calls it, the Syrian region, may be considered as extending to the north 
of India. Another plant more singular was also first discovered by Dr. Hamilton, 
Cochlearia flava, and has been described by Roth under the name of Alyssum Cochlearioides, 
— celebrated De‘Candolle has called Cochlearia?  Alyssoides, in his Prodromus, 
wk beloaet whether it be: not-a species of Vesicaria.. In its accumbent. cotyledons, 
oval dissepiment: and convex valves, it resembles Cochlearia, but it differs in habit, 
which 
