200 CHAPTER XXVII. 



suppression of two or three internodes a whorl of 

 leaves is often formed on the axis. This plant is 

 interesting as showing the transition to the opposite 

 leaves which appear in many Composites. 



In April and May Lepidium Draba forms white- 

 topped forests by the wayside everywhere This 

 Crucifer appears now and then on our south coast. 

 A yellow-flowered plant of the same order, Diplotaxis 

 tenui/olia D.C.(Sisymbrium L.Brassica T$oiss.),Jliquetta 

 the natives call it, is even commoner, though it does 

 not cover large patches of ground like that last 

 mentioned. The leaf is very pungent ; it is used to 

 flavour salad. I should think that a little would 

 suffice. This weed patiently endures any extremities 

 of drought, and flowers almost the whole year round. 



Mr. C. Bicknell informs me that in Italy the popu- 

 lar name Richetta is applied to Eruca sativa Lamk. 



Of the Pinks (Caryophylls) perhaps the most 

 widespread is the delicate little Gypsophila (or Tunica). 

 It can thrive more than 3,000 feet above the sea. I 

 must apologize for including this charming Caryophyll 

 among Wayside Weeds ; I did not intend it for an 

 insult, as the Irishman said when he called Mr. 

 Balfour a perjured villain. This same Gypsophila 

 decorates the ruins and the tombs of Rome. The 

 red and green carpet of Saponaria ocymoides is not 

 so common, for it requires a little moisture. But the 

 Italian Catch-fly Silene Italica (?) may be found on 

 every bank, with its sticky stem and withered white 

 flowers. The petals of this Silene are always 

 shrivelled up. You would suppose that the plant 

 were about to perish : but just at sunset, when the 

 invalid goes indoors if he values his life, the folded 

 petals straighten out, and a five-rayed star displays 



