CRUCIFER^. 



267 



Fro. 113. — The flower and --"■ © 



STAMENS AND PISTIL OF THE SeA- c+OTVipi-JO 

 KALE, TO ILLUSTRATE THE CrU- ^ 



in four divisions ; the four sepals being placed 

 alternately with the four 

 ^1<C^ ^£XX yi^^) petals, the latter form- 

 ^il y^^ ^~^^''^f1r^ ing a cross (as shown at 

 a in Ji^. 11 3) J whence 

 the name of Cruciferous, 

 which signifies cross- 

 bearins:. Tfiere are six 

 (Z>), two of 

 ciFiiR-E. which are much shorter 



than the others ; and two carpels with one 

 style, and a capitate or divided stigma. The 

 seed-vessel is a kind of pod, either short and 

 broad, hkethat of the Shepherd's Purse (/^.l 14), 

 where it is called a sillicle ; or long and narrow, 

 like that of the Cabbage, which is 

 called a silique. The two valves of 

 the silique open naturally when ripe, 

 from the bottom curving upwards, 

 (seeji^. 115,) and the seeds are de- 

 posited on a thin membrane between 

 the cells, which is tlie dissepiment. 

 Cruciferse, from abounding in nitrogen, have an 

 unpleasant smell when decaying, like putrid 

 flesh ; and when cultivated, they even in a wild 

 state require abundance of animal manure ; 

 hence, they are generally found near human 

 habitations, or where cattle are kept. When 

 wild, they have generally acrid properties ; and 



Fia. 114.— A 

 Sillicle. 



All the 



