48 riTTONIA. 



relief of tlie embarassment of the instructor, and to the 

 assistance of those waiting for instruction. By the peculiar 

 taste of the fresh herbage alone every cruciferous plant 

 known to me, might by any novice be referred to its proper 

 order almost infallibly ; and; I am in the habit of calling on 

 my pupils to apply this test. It is an unconventional one ; 

 but it is found the most serviceable of all which can be 

 applied in case the organ ographical 2)eculiarities one or all . 

 become obscure or obsolete. 



This flavor of the Crucifera) is said to be due to the preva- 

 lence of a peculiar Tolatile oiL^ One may describe it as acrid 

 or pungent; but there is no other flavor with which it may 

 be compared, and an exact definition of it in words becomes 

 impossible. It is assumed to indicate and represent those well 

 known stimulant and antisctn-butic properties which pervade 

 the entire family. It is found most intense in the roots of 

 the Horseradish and the seeds of Mustard ; but every cru- 

 ciferous plant yields it in some degree. This peculiar taste 

 may be subsidiary to the rather keen bitter one meets with 

 in several genera ; or it may commingle with the saline flavor 

 common to several maritime species ; or it may even be more 

 than half suppressed beneath the strong garlicky taste of 

 AJliaria officinalis and some other Old World crucifers; but 

 its universal prevalence, as one of those sensible properties 

 which our organs of sight can not detect, is the sole absolute 

 characteristic of this important natural assemblage of plants.^ 



The closest analogy to the Crucifene in respect to the 

 characteristics now under notice, is that which the species of 

 Tropivohim exhibit. The flavor of the herbage of these 



* De Candolle, Essai sur les Prop. Med. 112. 



^ la thig connection it ^vill be iuteresting to note that Crantz, one of 

 the most original of botanists, and one of the most important amon*^ the 

 early supporters oE the doctrine of a natural as opposed to artificial 

 systems ot clarification, took the name which he proposed for this order 

 {Anihcorbnticic, Crantz, Stirp. Austr. pp. 5-55 (17C9) from the medicnl 

 property, preferring it to that which Adauson had fixed upon {Crucijenr) 

 in reference to floral cliaracter. 



