42 CRUCIFEE^ 



number, and the stamens six, of which two opposite ones are shorter than the 

 other four. The seed-vessel is either a long silique, composed of two valves 

 and a central partition; or it is a shorter pod, termed a silicle, or pouch, 

 which is generally, but not invariably, similarly formed. Two green 

 glands are usiially present at the base of the stamens, and secrete honey. 

 The plants are either annual, biennial, or perennial herbs, occasionally be- 

 coming, as in the Wallflower, a sort of under shrub, but rarely exceeding 

 three feet in height. 



The Cruciferous Order furnishes us with many of the vegetables which 

 constitute our food. The Turnip, Cabbage, Radish, Horse-radish, and a 

 variety of other important plants, have cruciform blossoms. Most vegetables 

 of this order contain, when wild, an acrid, volatile, oily principle, which is 

 peculiarly abundant in the seeds of the Mustard and the roots of the Horse- 

 radish, and which occurs in a milder form in the foliage of the Watercress, 

 the Scurvy -grass, and other edible plants. The cruciform plants also contain 

 a quantity of nitrogen gas, which is the cause of the unpleasant odour emitted 

 by them in decaying. It has been observed that cruciform plants are always 

 eatable when their texture is succulent and watery, as in the leaves of the 

 cabbage, and the roots of the turnip and radish. None are unwholesome, 

 though some, like the Wallflower, are too acrid to be palatable. Many very 

 beautiful garden flowers are contained in this order. The fragrant Stock and 

 AVallflower, the Candy-tufts, the Rockets and Alyssums, are found in almost 

 every garden ; and the pretty Cuckoo-flower, the Cardamine of the meadow, 

 and the yellow Charlock of the fields, are only a few of the many which 

 blossom in our wild landscape. 



The chief generic mark of this order is founded on the position in the 

 seed of the radicle with regard to the cotyledons or seed-lobes ; but as this 

 arrangement is too difficult to be comprehended by any but the scientific 

 botanist, it is not alluded to in a work intended for popular use. 



The Cruciform Order is pre-eminently European, occurring mostly in the 

 temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Upwards of 200 grow in the frigid 

 zone, the scant}^ vegetation being chiefly composed of these plants. Some of 

 them thrive at the limits of the perpetual snows of lofty mountains, and 

 others follow man into whatever region he may penetrate. 



■* Seed-vessel, a pouch (silicle) or short jwd. 

 t Pouch 2-valved, with a central vertical partition. 



1. Penny-cress {llddspi). — Pouch rounded, flat, notched; valves boat- 

 shaped, winged at the back ; seeds many. Name from the Greek thlao, to 

 flatten. 



2. Shepherd's Purse (Capsella). — Pouch inversely heart-shaped, flat ; 

 valves boat-shaped, keeled, but not winged ; seeds numerous. Name, a small 

 capsa, or seed-case. 



3. HUTCHINSIA. — Pouch elliptical, entire ; valves boat-shaped, keeled, not 

 winged ; cells 2-seeded. Named from Miss Hutchins, of Bantry, Ireland, an 

 eminent botanist. 



4. TeesdAlia. — Pouch roundish, notched ; valves boat-shaped, keeled ; 



