76 CEUCIFER^ 



Iiby and Mangles seem to have referred to this plant in their " Travels "; 

 l:>ut Sir Joseph Hooker and Dr. Tristram differ from Dr. Royle on the 

 ground that the Salvadora does not grow in the Holy Land proper, though 

 it is found in the Dead Sea basin. They contend that our S. nigra is the 

 species referred to, for in Palestine it attains a height of ten feet, and may 

 be fitly regarded as a tree among herbs, for flocks of linnets and other finches 

 " lodge " among its branches for the sake of its abundant seeds. 



4. Wall-rocket (S. tenuifdlia). — Pods shortly beaked, erect; stems 

 erect, leafy ; leaves long and narrow, very acute, pinnatifid, or twice- 

 pinnatifid, smooth. Plant perennial. In the south, south-west, and east 

 of England, this is a common plant, with branched stems a foot or a foot 

 and a half in height, and bearing, from June to September, a few pale yellow 

 flowers. The different species of wild Mustard are sometimes difficult of 

 determination by the young botanist, but this may be known at once from 

 the others by its peculiar odour. The flowers have a scent which, though 

 disagreeable to some, is liked by others. The author was accustomed, during 

 childhood, to call the flower Yellow Custards, because of its somewhat 

 almond-like fragrance, a fragrance still pleasing to her, as to many. Of the 

 odour of the leaves, however, there would be but one opinion, for though 

 while growing they seem almost scentless, yet, on being crushed, they emit 

 the most nauseous and disgusting scent. This Rocket is often found in 

 England, near houses, and on dry banks, or old walls, and heaps of rubbish 

 about towns, and is very plentiful in the suburbs of London. It is rare in 

 Scotland, but is found in Cheviotland. This plant is by some placed in the 

 genus Sisymbrium, but with other writers, this, and the following species, 

 are referred to the genus Diplotdxis. 



5. Sand-rocket (»S'. murdlis). — Pods shortly beaked, erect ; stem her- 

 baceous, spreading, leafy only at the base ; leaves smooth, and waved. This 

 species is much like the last, but it has a simple stem, is much smaller, and 

 is annual. It grows on sandy fields, near the sea, chiefly in the south and 

 south-west of England. It is very abundant in cultivated lands in the Isle 

 of Thanet, especially about Ramsgate. Dr. Withering observes of it, — 

 "This weed, which has overrun the whole arable land of the Isle of Thanet, 

 was first remarked, some twenty years ago, near to the beach at Broadstairs, 

 and is believed to have been introduced on that spot by a corn-laden vessel, 

 wrecked on that part of the coast." 



28. Dame's Violet (HSsperis). 



Common Dame's Violet (//. matrondlis). — Stem erect; leaves 

 Ijroadly lance-shaped, toothed ; limb of the petals inversely egg-shaped ; 

 pods erect. Plant perennial. This is a handsome flower, often cultivated in 

 gardens, and known, in old times, by the name of Rogue's Gillyflowers. It 

 is occasionally found on hilly pastures in sevei'al parts of the kingdom, but 

 has, doubtless, been the outcast of some neighbouring garden. It has pale 

 purple flowers, fragrant in the evening, from May to July. The French call 

 it La Julienne ; it is the Niwhtviole of the Germans. It was because of the 

 custom of German ladies of placing these flowers in their rooms, that the 



