THALAMIFLORE 53 
flower is fragrant and much like brandy, hence also 
the above name. 
The flowers are to be found as early as June up 
till August. 
The sepals have honey glands on the under side as 
in the petals of other flowers. 
Though so fragrant and yielding honey few insects 
visit it except beetles and flies. 
The seeds are dispersed by the agency of water, 
the carpels being borne away in many cases. When 
the flower has matured its fruit it sinks to the bottom, 
and the seeds germinate in the mud. This habit is 
very similar to that of the extraordinary Vallisneria. 
The celebrated Linnzus says that pigs are fond of 
eating the leaves and root. And he also states that 
when burnt it drives away crickets, and that cock- 
roaches are exterminated by the roots rubbed or 
bruised with milk. 
As long ago as the time of Pliny it was employed 
to counteract the influence of a potion given, as was 
done in those quaint days of superstition, as a love- 
philtre. 
A few of its local names are Bobbins, Butter-churn, 
Candock, Flatter-dock. 
THE CRESS AND CABBAGE GROUP. 
There is perhaps no more natural order of plants 
than the Cruciferz, which includes the Stock, Wall- 
flower, Water Cress, Winter Cress, Rock Cress, 
Bitter Cress, Coral-root, Hedge Mustard, Hedge 
