30 SWISS FLOWERS. 



sometimes requires close study. The family is not a showy 

 one, and even in Switzerland is not marked by special 

 attractiveness. If not showy, however, it furnishes many 

 of our best-known kitchen-garden vegetables — Turnip, 

 Cabbage, Radish, down to Mustard and Cress. 



Thlaspi rotundifolium (Fig. 10) is found only at con- 

 siderable heights on the mountains, when, almost within 

 reach of the melting snow, among the gritty rubbish, its 

 pretty purple masses may be seen lying close to the ground, 

 and blossoming at the extremity of a kind of circle, or 

 half-circle, the centre of which is filled by its smooth, 

 tough, fleshy leaves. Those up the stem are often a little 

 eared ; the calyx is coloured. This bright little plant may 

 also be known by its sweet smell. It does not dry well. 

 The seed is siliculose. Mont Pilatus, Dent du Midi, top of 

 Faulhorn, La Tournette near Annecy, Mont Cenis, &c. 



T. Alpestre (Fig. 11) is very diflPerent in appearance, much 

 more like our Shepherd's Purse, its small white flowers 

 being rather insiguiflcant ; but they are very prettily dotted 

 by the long coloured stamens, which at length become black. 

 The plant is from four to ten inches high. The root-leaves 

 are roundish-oblong, on long stalks; the higher ones em- 

 bracing the stem are more arrow-shaped. Heights of the 

 Jura and Alps, Le Dole, Zermatt, Mont Bernina, Mont 

 Cenis, Mont Margeriaz. 



