CRUCIFEROUS TRIBE 59 



he seen from August to September. It grows in Counemara, Ireland, and 

 at Lidstep in Pembrokeshire. Its stem is from four to six inches in height. 



5. Bristol Rock-cress (A. stricta). — Root-leaves waved and toothed ; 

 stem-leaves sessile ; stems hairy at the base ; pods erect. Plant perennial. 

 This is very rare, growing on the limestone soil of St. Vincent's Rocks, near 

 Bristol. Although it has been said to be found in some other places, it seems 

 peculiar to this. It was formerly abundant on the rocks, but can now be 

 seen on but few spots, as in a gully near the Sea Wall on the upper part of 

 Durdham Downs, Clifton ; or in the Leigh Woods on the opposite shore of 

 the Avon. The root-leaves are edged with many strong but fine hairs. The 

 plant flowers from March till May, and is much like the Thale-cress, but its 

 blossoms are about twice the size of those of that plant. 



6. Tower Rock-cress {A. turrlta). — Leaves clasping the stem; pods 

 slender, curved downwards, and flat, with the margins thickened ; bracts at 

 the base of the flowers. Plant perennial. This plant, which is a doubtful 

 native, would seem to have some preference for the halls of learning, for 

 among recorded habitats are the walls of Trinity and St. John's Colleges, 

 Cambridge, and of Magdalen College, Oxford. It is well characterised by 

 the form of its pods and its bracts. It blossoms in June. Flowers pale 

 yellow. 



19. Tower-mustard {Turritis). 



Smooth Tower-mustard (T. gldhra). — Root-leaves toothed, hairy; 

 stem-leaves clasping, entire, and smooth. Plant annual. The only British 

 species of this genus is very similar to the Rock-cresses, being distinguished 

 from them by having the seeds in its pods arranged in two rows instead of 

 one. It is rather a local than a rare plant, being generally distributed over 

 England, though rare and doubtfully native in Scotland. Its flowers are 

 yellowish white, and open in June. The somewhat pyramidal appearance of 

 the leaves and stem of this plant probably originated its generic name, and 

 its long pod has given to it also the name of Long-podded Mustard. The 

 French call the plant La Toureite, the Germans Das Thurmkraut. It is the 

 Turrekruid of the Dutch, and its Swedish name is Rockentrap. Many writers 

 call it Arahis perfoliata. 



20. Winter-cress (BarbarSa). 



1. Common Winter-cress {B. vulgaris). — Lower leaves lyre-shaped, 

 the terminal lobe roundish; upper inversely egg-shaped, toothed. Plant 

 perennial. The angular stem, and dark, shining, smooth leaves, distinguish 

 this plant from the wild mustard, which it much resembles. Its flowers 

 appear from May to August, and are very numerous, and of bright yellow 

 colour. The plant is often called Hedge-mustard, and is termed also Winter- 

 cress, Yellow Rocket Herb, and Herb St. Barbara. The French call it La 

 Barharie, the Spanish Hierha de Santa Barbara, and the Italians Barbarea. It 

 is common on moist waste grounds ; and although its leaves are disagreeably 

 bitter, it is said to be cultivated now in some countries for salad ; and we 

 well know that the young leaves were eaten in winter and early spring by 

 our forefathers. It is not the English name alone which retains the memory 



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