CLASS XV. PRDKR II. BRASSICA. ^13 



2. B, caynpesUris, Linn. (Fig-. 1055.) Common Wild Naveiv, or 

 Navet. Root tapering ; stem cylindrical ; leaves glaucous, fleshy, the 

 lower ones lyrate, lobed, and toothed, rough, with hairs, the upper 

 oblong, heart-shaped, clasping the stem. 



English Botany, t. 2234. — English Flora, vol. iii. p. 218. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 256. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 32. 



Root tapering, small and hard. Stem erect, about two feet high, 

 round, branched, glaucous, rough below, with bristly hairs from a 

 bulbous base, mostly smooth above. Leaves numerous, glaucous 

 green, the radical ones lyrate, rough, especially on the veins and ribs, 

 with bristly hairs, the terminal lobe broad, unequally toothed and 

 lobed, the lower lobes oblong, toothed, unequal, the upper leaves 

 oblong, heart-shaped at the base, sessile, and embracing the stem, 

 entire, sinuated or toothed, smooth, or less hairy than the lower ones. 

 Injlorescence terminal sub-corymbose racemes, becoming much elong- 

 ated after flowering. Calyx somewhat spreading, of four oblong 

 pieces. Petals four, bright yellow, the limb roundish oblong, the claw 

 narrow, dilated upwards. JStamens with awl-shaped ^/awien«5. Fruit 

 a spreading siliqua, cylindrical, with strongly keeled valves and obscure 

 lateral veins, pointed with the slender tapering persistent style, tipped 

 with the small obtuse stigma. Seeds globose, smooth, dark brown. 



Habitat. — Cultivated fields and the banks of streams; not unfre- 

 quent in various parts of the country. 



Annual ; flowering in June and July. 



Of these species also there are some very important tribes which 

 are grown by the horticulturist and farmer. 



1. The Oleifera. The root spindle-shapedj stem elongated. Of 

 this species there are two varieties : — 



autumnalis. 

 prcecox. 



2. Pabularia. The root spindle-shaped, and stem short. 



3. Napo-Brassica. The root tumidy like a turnip . — 



communis, white and purple. 

 Butabaga. 



The Oleifera, Cole-seed, colza or coha, is cultivated to a considerable 

 extent, especially in some parts of the Continent, for the sake of the 

 oil which its seeds yield by expression in large quantities ; and the 

 refuse both of the seeds and plant are useful as fodder for cattle and 

 manure. 



The Pabularia is a low much branched productive plant, but is 

 only cultivated as fodder for sheep and cattle chiefly on the Continent. 



The Napo-Brassica are curious varieties, and so called from their 

 seeming to be intermediate plants between the turnip and cabbage 

 tribes. The stem is swollen into a globose fleshy tuber, sweet, crowned 

 by the leaves, and it is white, or of a purplish colour. This variety is 

 seldom cultivated here, but on the Continent it is common, and used 



