CRUCIFEROUS TRIBE 53 



Ost, an eniiiieiit experimental chemist of Belgium, says, " If farmers did but 

 know the value of this plant, they would all grow it. A fine oil, which can 

 be produced from the seeds at a low cost, is fit for burning in lamps ; it can 

 also be used in the manufacture of woollen goods and soap, and it is highly 

 nutritive to cattle." 



11. Sweet Alyssum (Kuniga). 



Seaside Koniga, or Sweet Alyssum {K. maritima). — Stem some- 

 what woody at the base ; leaves linear, lanceolate, hoary. Plant perennial. 

 We never find this flower inland, and rarely even by the sea. It is not truly 

 wild, never occurring far from a garden where it is or has been cultivated. 

 It has white, honey-scented flowers, which appear in July and August. The 

 Calycine Alyssum {Alyssum calycinum), a native of central and southern 

 Europe, is sometimes enumerated among British plants, having established 

 itself in several places ; but it appears to be of recent introduction. It is 

 called Calycine because its calyx does not fall off like that of the other 

 species. The genus Koniga is by many writers included in that of Alyssum, 

 which is the Mad-wort of the ancients, and the plants of which were supposed 

 to allay anger. Several species are favourite garden flowers. 



12. Sea Rocket (CaklU). 



Purple Sea Rocket (C. maritima). — Stem and foliage succulent ; 

 leaves pinnatifid, somewhat toothed. Plant annual. This plant, which is 

 not uncommon on our sandy shores, is easily distinguished by its succulent 

 habit, and its purplish lilac flowers, which blossom from June till September. 

 It is somewhat bushy, spreading out its zigzag branches, and bearing the 

 same sea-green tint as the foliage of the stock or wallflower. The blossoms 

 are sometimes white, or M^hite streaked or tinged with purple. The seed- 

 vessels are very peculiar, the upper seed in each pouch being erect, and the 

 lower pendent. The whole plant is said, by Anguillara, to have powerful 

 remedial virtues. One of its old English names was Bunias, and the French 

 term it Caqiiille ; the Germans, Meerseuf ; the Dutch, Europische Knodsirugi ; 

 while the Swedes call it Stramlsenaj). This, or a similar Sea Rocket, grows 

 on the sandy shores of most countries of the northern hemisphere. 



13. Sea Kale (Crambe). 



Sea Kale (C. maritima). — Pouch pointless; leaves roundish, waved, 

 and toothed ; sea-green, and, as well as the stem, smooth. Plant perennial. 

 It is chiefly on the sandy shores of the west of England that this plant 

 abounds. It is not, however, confined to them, but grows in various 

 places, both on cliffs and sand, as at St. Margaret's, and Langdon Bay, near 

 Dover. It is very plentiful at some parts of the base of the cliffs between 

 Dover and Folkestone, where, as we are whirled past it by the train, we may 

 just get a glimpse of its white flowers and rich purple leaves, which, at a 

 distance, look like gay blossoms. It flowers in June, and differs in no 

 respect from the kind cultivated as an esculent in the kitchen garden. 

 Crambe is one of the Greek names applied to the Cabbage ; and our Kale is 

 called by the French Le Cramy, and by the Italians Crambe marina. The 



