17 



the following reasons. In the first place, it will shew young botanists how 

 narrowly it is necessary for them to observe the structure of plants, and how 

 indispensable it is to bear constantly in mind the analogies that exist between 

 the formation of one plant and another ; in the second place, by pursuing 

 the discussion, I hope to induce some one to set the question at rest, by 

 means of such demonstration as it is capable of receiving; and thirdly, I still 

 retain my opinion, notwithstanding what I have seen and heard since it 

 was formed ; relying chiefly upon the peculiarities of Eschscholtzia, v?hich 

 seems to me to be so intimately connected with the question at issue, 

 and so obviously formed upon the same plan as Cruciferee, vi^hatever that 

 plan may be, that what can be shewn to be true of one must be true of the 

 other. 



Almost all Cruciferge have the calyx imbricated in aestivation ; but Mr. 

 Brown has noticed {Denham, p. 7) that in Savignya and Ricotia it is valvate. 



It is a very common character of Cruciferse to be destitute of bracteae. 



Geography. An order eminently European ; 166 species are found in 

 northern and middle Europe, and 178 on the northern shore or islands of the 

 Mediterranean ; 45 are peculiar to the coast of Africa, between Mogador and 

 Alexandria; 184 to Syria, Asia Minor, Tauria, and Persia; 99 to Siberia; 

 35 to China, Japan, or India ; 16 to New Holland and the South Sea Islands; 

 6 to the Isle of France and the neighbouring islands ; 70 to the Cape of 

 Good Hope ; 9 to the Canaries or Madeira ; 2 to St. Helena ; 2 to the West 

 Indies ; 41 to South America ; 48 to North America; 5 to the islands between 

 North America and Kamtchatka ; and 35 are common to various parts of the 

 world. This being their general geographical distribution, it appears that, 

 exclusive of species that are uncertain, or common to several different coun- 

 tries, about 100 are found in the southern hemisphere, and about 800 in the 

 northern, or 91 in the new, and the rest in the old world. Finally, if we con- 

 sider them with regard to temperature, we shall find that there are, — 



In the frigid zone of the northern hemisphere 205 



In all the tropics (and chiefly in mountainous regions) 30 



T ^7 ^ . ( of the northern hemisphere... 548 ) ^o^ 



In the temperate zone { of the southern ditto . 86 [ ^^^ 



Such were the calculations of Decandolle in 1821 {Syst. 2. 142). Although 

 requiring considerable modification, especially in the Siberian and North 

 American numbers, which are much too low, they serve to give a general idea 

 of the manner in which the order is dispersed over the globe. 



Properties. The universal character of Cruciferse is to possess anti- 

 scorbutic and stimulant qualities, combined with an acrid flavour. These are 

 so uniform, that I shall only offer some very general Remarks upon them ; for 

 which I am chiefly indebted to Decandolle's Essai sur les Proprictes Medi- 

 cales dcs Plantes, to which I refer those who wish for more information. 

 Cruciferee contain a great deal of azote, to which it is supposed is due their 

 animal odour when rotting. Mustard, Cress, Horseradish, and many others, 

 are extremely stimulating and acrid. The seeds of Sinapis chinensis are 

 considered by Hindoo and Mahometan practitioners as stimulant, stomachic, 

 and laxative. Ainslie, 1. 230. The seeds of one species of Arabis (chi- 

 nensis Rottler) are prescribed by the Indian doctors as stomachic and gently 

 stimulant; but they apprehend its bringing on abortion if imprudently given. 

 Ibid. 2. 12. When the acrid flavour is dispersed among an abundance 

 of mucilage, various parts of these plants become a wholesome food; such 

 as the root of the Radish and the Turnip, the herbage of the Water-cress, the 

 Cabbage, the Sea-kale, and the stems of various plants of the cabbage tribe. 

 Prince Maximilian, of Wied Neuwied, relates that the Brazilian Indians use 

 a kind of cress, which in taste resembles that of Europe, as a good remedy 



c 



