CRUCIFEROUS TRIBE 51 



than the stamens ; leaves narrow, pointed, glossy, keeled, and fringed. Plant 

 perennial. This elegant little plant fofms dense tufts on the walls of Pennard 

 Castle, near Swansea. It is rendered conspicuous from afar, in March and 

 April, by its flowers of bright yellow, which, though very small, are very 

 abundant, and on stalks about two inches high. 



3. Twisted Whitlow-grass {JK incdna). — Stem-leaves narrow, toothed; 

 petals entire ; pouch twisted. Plant biennial. The leaves of this species dis- 

 tinguish it from the common kind, for they are quite white with down. It 

 is also much taller, sometimes attaining a foot in height ; and though not a 

 common plant, yet is less rare than several of the species, growing on moun- 

 tain-rocks in Wales, the north of England, and in Scotland, and bearing white 

 flowers in June and July. Several of our British species are also annual or 

 perennial plants of the cold mountainous countries of Europe, and a few are 

 American, The French call the Common Whitlow-grass La Drane ; the 

 Germans term it HungerUilmchen ; and the Dutch, Taschkruid, Its continental 

 name of Hunger-flower, given, probably, on account of the barren soils on 

 which the different species flourish, seems very general. Thus the Swedes 

 call it also Hunger-blomskr, and the Danes Hungerhlomst. The name of 

 Whitlow-grass, as well as that of Nailwort, point to the opinion of our old 

 herbalists, that the acrid juice of these plants, mingled with milk, cured 

 whitlows ; though, probably, the efficacy of the remedy belonged to the milk 

 only, hot milk being still used in cases of whitlow. 



4. Speedwell-leaved Whitlow-grass {D. muridia). — Stem leafy, 

 branched ; leaves rough, egg-shaped, blunt, toothed, embracing the stem ; 

 flower-stalks spreading horizontally. Plant annual. This species has the 

 tallest stems of any of the family, its small white flowers sometimes rising 

 more than a foot high from the ground. It blossoms in May, on limestone 

 rocks, from York to Somerset, but is a rare plant. 



.5. Rock Whitlow-grass {D. rupSstris). — Flower-stalk leafless, or rarely 

 with one leaf ; pouch or pod oblong-oval ; leaves flat, lanceolate, and hairy. 

 Plant perennial. This tiny flower is very beautiful, but veiy rare ; rising 

 just above the green moss, its little white blossoms, during July, stand amid 

 stems with branches, each crowned with a tuft of soft fringed leaves, several 

 of the flower-stalks coming up from the same root, and seldom more than an 

 inch and a half in height. The words of the Rev. H. F. Ly te occur to memory 

 when thinking of this delicate little plant, which has beauties to be seen only 

 by him who patiently examines it. 



Spai-e this flower, this gentle flower — 



The slender creature of a day ; ' 



Let it bloom out its little hour, 

 And pass away : 



•' Too soon its fleeting charms must lie 

 Decay'd, unnoticed, overthrown ; 

 Oh ! hasten not its destiny, 

 Too like thy own ! 



" Oh spare this flower ! thou know'st not what 

 Thy undiscerning hand would tear ; 

 A thousand charms thou notest not 

 Lie treasured there : 



7—2 



