DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 99 



downy, with forked hairs. Flowers small, white, in numerous 

 terminal racemes. Petals obovate, entire, twice as long as 

 the sepals. Filaments enlarged below. Pod round, com- 

 pressed. Seeds 1 in each cell.* 



1. L. maritima, Desv. Sweet Alyssum. Stem weak, diffuse, 

 ascending, minutely downy. Lower leaves narrowed into a petiole, 

 the upper sessile. Kacemes erect, many-flowered. Flowers fra- 

 grant, pedicels ascending. Pod often pointed. Common in culti- 

 vation and often run wild.* 



Xn. MATTHIOLA, R. Br. 



Herbaceous or shrubby oriental plants, covered with a down 

 composed of star-shaped hairs. Flowers in showy racemes 

 of many colors, ranging from white to crimson. Stigmas 

 large and spreading. Pods nearly cylindrical, except for a 

 prominent midrib on each valve. 



1. M. incana, Br. Common Stock, Gillyflower. Biennial or 

 perennial, with somewhat woody stems. Cultivated in greenhouses 

 and gardens. 



40. CAPPARIDACEiE. Caper Family. 



Herbs (when growing in cool temperate regions), with bit- 

 ter or nauseous juice. Leaves alternate, usually palmately 

 compound. Flowers often irregular, usually perfect. Sepals 

 4-8. Petals 4 or wanting. Stamens 6 or more. Ovary and 

 pod 1-celled, with 2 rows of ovules. Seeds kidney-shaped. 



I. POLANISIA, Raf. 



Ill-smelling annual plants covered with glandular or 

 clammy hairs. Sepals distinct, spreading. Petals with 

 claws, notched at the tip. Stamens 8-32, of various lengths. 

 Receptacle not lengthened. Pod linear or oblong, rather 

 large, many-seeded. 



1. P. graveolens, Raf. A very strong-scented, leafy, branching- 

 herb, 6-15 in. high. Leaves with 3 oblong leaflets. Flowers small, 

 pinkish and yellowish-white, in the axils of leafy bracts, in terminal 

 racemes. Stamens 8-12, not much longer than the petals. Pod 

 about 2 in. long, slightly stalked. Gravelly banks. 



