CRUCIFER^^E. 36 



Found on rocky hills. A smooth, delicate, glaucous plant, about 1 foot high. 

 Root fusiform. The leaves both from the root and stem are variously subdi- 

 vided, mostly bitornate, with smooth leaflets about ;}-cleft, and together with 

 the whole plant, covered with a fine glaucous dust. The stem divides above 

 into an irrea'ular panicle, with very curious and delicate flowers. The cilyx 

 consists of 2 ovate acuminate leaflets, between which, placed crosswise, is 

 balanced the tul>ular, ringent corolla with closed mouth, and behind, a single, 

 rounded spur, the whole beautifully colored with alternating shades of light 

 red and yellow, and about iialf an inch long. On dry rocks, with little soil, 

 the plant is sometimes found with a simple :5tem,and a single terminal flower. 

 May — Aug. Bicnn. Glaucous Corydalis. 



2. C. au'rea. 



Stem branching, diff'use ; leaves bipinnated ; Irafle.ts linear-lanceolate, lobed, 

 acute at each end; racemes one-sided, opposite tlie leaves and terminal; 

 bracts lanceolate, 'S times as long as the peduncle. About a foot high, with, 

 finely divided leaves. Flowers yellow, about half as long as the slender, 

 terete, torulose pods which succeed them. May, Aug. Ann. Golden CorijUalis. 



4. FUMA'RIA. 



Calyx 2-sepalecl ; corolla 4-petaled, one of the petals spur- 

 red at base; tilaments in 2 sets each, with 3 anthers; nut 

 ovate or globose, 1 -seeded and valveless. 



Lat. fumus, smoke, from its disagreeable smell The species are handsome 

 annual weeds. Cal. caducous, inf Cor. irregular, tubular, spreading at the 

 apex. Fil. as in Corydalis. 



F. officina'lis. 



Sfcm branching, spreading. Leaflets crenate . lanceolate; caj'sulc a globose- 

 retuse nut. A small erect plant, common in sandy fields and about gardens. 

 Leaves supra-decomi)ound, the last divisions linear-lobed, dilated upwards. 

 Flowers purple, in rather loose racemes. Pedicels in fruit erect, twice as long 

 as the bracts. July— Aug. Ann. Fumilurij. 



ORDER XIV. CRUClFERiE. The Cruciferous Trlhc. 



frt?.— Sepols 4, ilecidiimis. [ing in die form of a cross. 



Car. (_)f 4 rff;ul;ir petals, Oieir claws inserted into the receptacle, and tlieir limbs spread- 



Sirt.— 0, 2 of llieiii upon op))o.site sides shorter than the other 4. 



Ora.— Composed of two united carpels witli two parietal plaeentce, united by a meinbran- 



Fr.—A siliquc or siliele u.sually two-celled. [ous false disscpimeiil,— Ji«ig-»ias two. 



S,/,<._Allnchi;d in a single row to each side of the plaeentic;— «/6H?ne« 0. 



Embryo, with the two cotyledons variously folded on the radicle. 



A very natural order, largor than any of the prccedinpr, of an herbaceous habit, witli 

 alternate leaves :uid yellow'or while flowers; occasionally a species is found with purple 

 flowers. Of llie iidn sp.iifs included in this order, only Ui are peculiar to this conthieiii. 

 The greater pari -.wi- {••uui\ \u the Temperate Zones. 



Pmpntks. The Cruciicrx as a class are of much importance to man. They furnish sev- 

 eral alimenlary articles which are 'very nutrieious, as the turnip, cabbage, cauliflower; 

 several others are used as amrliments : as mustiird. radish, eoehleana, &c. They all possess 

 !i peculiar acrid, volatile principle dispersed tlirouph every pan, often aceompanied by an 

 etlierial oil abounding: in sulphur. They are ahso remarkable for eontaining- more nitrujri'n 

 than other vegetables, for wiiich reason ammonia is generally evolved in their pulrifaetion. 

 In medicine they are eminently stimulant and antiscorbutic. None are really poisonous, 

 although very acrid. The root of Isalis tiiicluria allurds a blue coloring matter. 



