106 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



Other common names, horse simply signifies big or strong. 



The second cress genus is Lepidhim which contains the 

 "garden cress" {L. sativum). This plant, like the water- 

 cress, is of European origin ; in fact, of our ninety-two species 

 of Cruciferae, just about half are immigrants. The species 

 just mentioned is occasionally called "golden cress," and 

 "golden pepper-grass," the last term referring to its pungent 

 qualities. "Tongue grass" may have been suggested by the 

 same characteristic. It may be noted in passing that "grass" 

 frequently used in connection with the cresses, is probably a 

 mispronunciation of the word cress. One of the commonest 

 of our weeds is Lepidimn Virginiciim which is known as 

 "wild pepper-grass" and "tongue grass." Cage birds are 

 fond of its seeds hence such terms as "bird's pepper." "bird- 

 seed," and "chickweed." Several other species in this genus 

 are called "pepper-grass." Lepidimn campestre, is, as the 

 specific name indicates, the "field cress." It is also known as 

 "pepper-grass," English pepper-grass," "poor man's pepper" 

 and "glen pepper." Like some of its congeners it is "yellow- 

 seed." It is also known as "cow-cress," "crow-weed" and 

 "false flax" for no very obvious reason. The name of "Mith- 

 ridate mustard" sometimes applied to this species belongs 

 more properly to another cress Thlaspi arvensis. Coronopiis 

 procumbens is the "carpet cress," or "herb ivy" from its 

 creeping habit but it is more commonly known as "wart cress," 

 "wart-wort," "sow's grass," "swine's cress" or "buck's horn." 

 All these are Old World names probably originally referring 

 to some fancied use of the plant in curing warts and of no 

 particular significance at present. The plants best entitled to 

 bear the name of "false flax" are the species of Camelincfi for 

 the common name is a literal translation of the scientific one. 

 Camelina sativa is also known as "Dutch flax" in allusion to 



