342 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Cardamine, (Linn.) Bitter Cress. 



Linn. CI. xv. Ord. ii. 



Name, kardamine, an old Greek name of some plant similar (as the 



name implies) to water cress, kardamon, the latter is derived from 



hardia, the heart, or rather the stomach; water cresses being 



reputed stomachic. 



1. C. impatiens, (Linn.) Narrow-leaved Bitter Cress. Engl. Bot. 

 t. 80, Reich. Icones, ii. 26. 



Locality. Hilly districts, generally preferring limestone. Very 

 rare in the county. A. Fl. May, June. Area, * * * 4. * 



North Division. 



4. North-west District, "Colerne Park," Mr. Sole, M.S.Flora. This 

 is the only authority I have for the occurrence of " C. impatiens " 

 in Wiltshire. The station has been repeatedly sought unsuccess- 

 fully by myself and others for many seasons. The plant may 

 always be distinguished by the stipules at the base of each leaf 

 being narrow, acute, and finely ciliated. Flowers very minute, 

 the petals white, but generally wanting; valves of the silique re- 

 curving upwards, scattering the seed with great force when touched, 

 whence the specific name. 



2. C. hirsuta. (Linn.) Hairy Bitter Cress. Reich. Icones, ii. 26. 

 Sturms' Deutschlands Flora, 45, 14. 



Locality. Shady waste ground, and damp walls, frequent. A. Fl. 

 April, June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



General in all the Districts, moist and rather shady spots seem its 

 natural habitats, but it is capable of accommodating itself to all 

 soils and situations ; plant generally hairy, but not alway so much 

 so as to warrant the specific name. 



3. C. sylvatica, (Link.) Wood Bitter Cress. Engl. Bot. t. 492. 

 Reich. Icones, ii. 26. St. 45, 14. 



Locality. In damp woody places, and by banks of streams, fre- 

 quent. A. Fl. April, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 



Not uncommon in all the Districts. This is the " C. hirsuta," 

 ol English Botany, and the " C. fle.vuosa," of Withering. The 

 stems are stouter, more deeply channelled, and zigzag than those 

 of " C. hirsuta," leaves more notched, lobed, and elongated. Petals 



