CRUCIFER^. 17 



This distinction can be seen without difficulty in the ripe and 

 dried seed, since there is no endosperm and the seed coat fits 

 tightly over the embryo. When one groove only shows on the 

 surface it is the division between the radicle and the cotyledons 

 (i.e., the radicle lies along their edges), when two grooves are 

 seen they separate the radicle in the centre from the cotyledons 

 which wrap round the other side of it. 



Named in allusion to the spreading of the four petals in the form of 

 a cross, 



A. Pod long and narrow, radicle along the edges of the cotyle- 

 dons (seed has a line a little to one side of the middle). 

 Flowers white or whitish cardamine. 



Lower leaves three-foliate, toothed. . C. africana. 



Lower leaves pinnate or pinnatisect C. hirsuta. 



B. Pod long and narrow, indented between the seeds. Radicle 

 across the cotyledons (seed has two grooves). 



Lower leaves broad, lyrate ; upper narrower, finely toothed. 

 Flowers yellow. . . Mustard brassica juncea. 



C. Pod short, as broad or broader than long. 



Partition across the narrower diameter. Pod heart-shaped 

 . . Shepherd's Purse capsella bursa-pastoris. 



CARDAMINE. f.b.l 10 vm. 



Bitter-cress, etc. 



Herbs. Leaves usually pinnatisect. Flowers v^hite or 

 purple. Pod narrow, opening by two valves. Seeds in 

 one row only ; radicle of embryo along the edges of the 

 cotyledons. 



Species about fifty over the whole of the temperate and 



arctic regions. 



Named on account of the use the leaves were once pit to as a cure for 

 that form of indigestion which produces palpitation of the heart, from the 

 Greek kardia a heart and damao I stibdue. Co7?iparethe name Cardavion 

 for the spice which has the safne property. But the Greek kardamon was 

 also the c'o?n7non garden Cress. 



To the genus belong the English wild plants, Cookoo- 

 flower. Bitter-cress ; the German Gaucheblurae, Wiesenkresse , 

 the French Cresson-nette, 



