NAT. ORDER. — TRIHILAT^. 105 



in the year 1684, and there called Le Grand Capuchie ; two years 

 afterwards it was introduced into Eiu-ope by Dr. Lumley Lloyd, and 

 since that time has been constantly cidtivated in the English gardens, 

 both as an ornament and a luxury ft)r the table. 



In its recent state this plant, and more especially its flowers, 

 have a smell and taste resembluig those of water-cress, and the leaves 

 on beuig bruised, emit a pungent odor, similar to that of horse-racUsh. 

 By distillation with water they impregnate the fluid to a considera- 

 ble extent with the smeU and flavor of the plant. The flowers are 

 very much used in salads, and the capsules are by many highly 

 esteemed as a pickle. Elizabeth Christina, daughter of the celebra- 

 ted Linnaeus, we are informed by her father, observed the flowers 

 of the great Indian-cress to emit spontaneously, at certain intervals, 

 sparks like electric ones, visible only in the evening. If this be the 

 case in this plant, it is probable the whole possess the property more 

 or less. 



Tropceolum tricolorum. Three-colored Indian-Cress. This is a 

 climbing plant ; the roots tuberous, and very much depressed ; stem 

 slender, climbing, branched ; leaves peltately divided ; segments from 

 six to seven, ovate entire, cuspidate ; petioles cirrhose ; petals yel- 

 low, unguiculate, a little longer tiian the rather closed permanent 

 calyx, obtuse, and quite entire ; calyx permanent, of an orange-scar- 

 let color, tipped with black, with a long straight spur. This is the 

 most showy of all the species. Native of ChUi. Flowers from 

 June till October. 



TropcBolum aduncmn. Hooked-spurred or Frmged-flowered 

 Indian-Cress. This is a climbing species; leaves peltate-nerved, 

 somewhat kidney-shaped, with from five to seven lobes, which are 

 mucronatc ; petals yellow, but a little longer than the calyx ; uppei 

 petals lobed, nmcronate, three lower ones smaller, and somewhat 

 fringed ; the spur is hooked, and about the length of the upper petals. 

 Native of Peru and Mexico. This species is cultivated at Gibraltar, 

 in the open air, where it is called canary-bird flower. 



