452 . CAPPARIDACEA. 
now rarely or ever employed, having been superseded by Indigo. In China 
also, a blue dye is obtained from the fruits of Jsatis indigotica. 
Lepidium sativum, Garden Cress.—This is well known as a pungent 
salad ; it is commonly used for that purpose mixed with the seedlings of 
the Mustard plants. 
Nasturtium officinale—This plant is the common Watercress, so well 
known as an excellent and wholesome salad. It has been highly spoken 
of as a remedial agent in the treatment of cachectic diseases. According 
to Mulder, it contains iodine. 
Raphanus sativus.—This is the common Radish, so much employed as a 
salad, &c. The siliques of Raphanus caudatus, when about half-grown, are 
good as a boiled vegetable ; and in a still younger state they form an agree- 
able salad, having a mild radish-like flavour. 
Sinapis. —This genus is now commonly included in that of Brassica 
(which see). . 
Many plants of the order are favourite objects of culture in our gardens, 
such as the Stock (Matthiola), Wallflower (Cheiranthus Cheiri), Candy- 
tuft (Lberis umbellata), Honesty (Lunaria bennis), &e. 
Order 5. CAPPARIDACE®, the Caper Order.—Character.— 
Herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, or 
rarely with spiny stipulate appendages. Sepals 4 (fig. 656, cal), 
sometimes cohering more or less ; xstivation imbricate or valvate, 
equal or unequal. Petals usually 4 (fig. 656, cor), cruciate, 
imbricate, generally unequal and unguiculate, rarely 8, or some- 
times none. Stamens numerous or definite, if 6, very rarely 
tetradynamous, placed usually upon a prolonged thalamus or 
stalk by which they are raised above the calyx and corolla (fig. 
696, st). Ovary (fig. 656, ov) placed on a gynophore or sessile, 
1-celled ; placentas 2 or more, parietal ; style filiform or wanting ; 
ovules amphitropous or campylotropous. Frwit 1-celled, usually 
many-seeded, very rarely 1-seeded, either pod-shaped and de- 
hiscent, or baccate and indehiscent. Seeds generally reniform, 
without albumen ; embryo curved ; cotyledons leafy. 
Diagnosis.—Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate leaves. 
Sepals and petals 4 each, the latter cruciate, and generally un- 
equal. Stamens usually numerous, very rarely tetradynamous, 
commonly inserted on a stalk, which raises them above the calyx 
and corolla. Ovary 1-celled, placentas parietal. Fruit dehis- 
cent or indehiscent, 1-celled. Seeds generally reniform ; embryo 
curved ; no albumen. 
Division of the Order and Illustrative Genera.—The order has 
been divided, according to the nature of the fruit, as follows :— 
Sub-order 1. Cleomex.—Fruit capsular and dehiscent. ilus- 
tratiwe Genera :—Gynandropsis, DC. ; Cleome, DC. 
Sub-order 2. Capparex.—Fruit baccate and indehiscent. Illus- 
trative Genera :—Cadaba, Forsk. ; Capparis, Linn. 
Distribution and Nwmbers.—The plants of the order are 
found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the globe. In 
Africa they are especially abundant. The common Caper (Cap- 
