Classification of Plants 



217 



at the base which pour honey into the pouched bases of the 

 inner sepals. The flowers are often borne in corymbs, which 

 brings a number of flowers close together, so that a good many 

 can be pollinated in a short time. As the flowers blossom the 

 stalk lengthens, and so it forms a simple raceme. The flowers 

 are not subtended by bracts, as is usually the case. Many 

 garden vegetables belong to this order, as the Cabbage, Turnip, 

 Mustard, and Cress. 



Heliophila (" the sun-loving plant ") is a famihar wild 

 flower of this order. The flowers are bright blue, yellow, or 



I. II. 



Fig. 214. — I. Tetradynamous stamens and pistil of Brnssica nigra: a, shorter, b, 

 longer stamens. II. Floral diagram. (From Edmonds and Marloth's " Elementary 

 Botany for South Africa.") 



white. The pods are straight edged, or sometimes constricted 

 between the seeds, forming pretty bead-like siliquas. Delicate 

 herbs or half shrubby plants. About 60 species are known, 

 both Eastern and Western. 



Capsella is a common weed with a heart-shaped silicula 

 for a fruit. 



Brachycarpea is a handsome Western genus with large 

 purple or yellow flowers. The fruit is indehiscent, the carpels 

 falling apart and carrying the single seed. A twiggy half 

 shrub, 3 feet or more high. 



Brassica is a genus of common garden plants. They are interesting in 

 showing how one group of plants can, when cultivated, develop along 



