112 



THE CABBAGE FAMILY. 



leaves frequently occurring upon the same stem, but in that case the 

 divided ones are always at the lower part. Flowers regular, numerous, 

 in general small and inconspicuous, except from their plenty ; com- 

 posed of four slender sepals, and four petals, placed crosswise (as in 

 Fig. 102); usually white or yellow, sometimes red, lilac, crimson, or 

 purple ; generally without perfume, though when present, it is very 

 strong and aromatic. Inflorescence beginning as a terminal corymb, 

 afterwards a long ujiright raceme, the lower flowers generally over- 

 blown and succeeded by the young seed-pods before the topmost have 

 expanded, so as to present every stage between flower-bud and fruit, 

 and allow the latter to supply characters while the plant is yet in 

 bloom, a fortunate circumstance in a family almost impossible to dis- 

 criminate without their aid. Stamens six, four long and two short. 

 (Fig. 99.) Pistil one, stigmas two, sessile. When ripe, the seed-pod 

 consists in almost every instance of two thin walls, separated by a 

 delicate and transparent white partition, having the seeds attached to 

 its surfaces, and remaining after the external parts have fallen away. 

 When long and narrow, as in Figs. 98, 100, 101, it is termed a 

 " silique ; " when short and broad, as in Fig. 103, it is called a " silicle," 

 but in either case is peculiar to the family. The thin silvery white 

 membranes left on the peduncles after the outer pieces and the 

 seeds have fallen away, frequently form conspicuous and pretty objects. 

 In the radish and a few others the partition is not developed. 



Fift. 98. 

 Silique of Cardamine. 



Fig. 09. 



Stamens of 



Cruciform llower 



(maguified). 



Fig. 100. 

 Silique. 



The Cabbage Family, though not one of the most shewy or exten- 

 sive, is in every way valuable and interesting. The rare uniformity of 

 its structure renders it highly deserving the attention of the botanical 



