THALAMIFLOR^ 109 



simultaneously. The longer stamens are level with 

 the stigma and open inwards, so that they are instru- 

 mental in self-pollination when insects do not effect 

 cross-pollination. But the shorter stamens shed 

 their pollen below the stigma, and this is touched by 

 an insect seeking honey, so that cross-pollination 

 occurs. The arrangement here is as in Whitlow 

 Grass. 



The siliculas open when ripe, and the seeds may 

 be blown away by the wind. 



The name Thlaspi is applied to this plant in allusion 

 to the flat pods like a penny (hence Pennycress). 

 The word is derived from the Greek thlaOf crush, 

 flatten. 



Mithridates, King of Pontus, is reputed to have 

 invented an antidote for poisons which included 

 some seventy-two ingredients, and amongst others, 

 Pennycress. It was the custom in early times to 

 make infusions of an enormous number of herbs (we 

 say " there is safety in numbers "), as in the case of 

 the drug Save (in which over fifty were included), 

 to which Chaucer refers. 



The old medicine-folk also included all sorts of 

 things in their mixtures. In this primitive antitoxin, 

 for instance, vipers and other reptiles played a part. 



Pennycress has been called Boor's Mustard, 

 Bowyer's Mustard, Churl's Mustard, Pennycress, 

 Wild Cress, Dish Mustard, Treacle Mustard, Treacle- 

 wort. 



The name Dish Mustard owes its origin to Turner, 



