152 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



'JIJK I11.D(;K MU8TARD. 



of the twisted leaf- 

 stalks. The leaves are 

 opposite, pinnate, with 

 three or five stalked, 

 ovate or cordate leaflets ; 

 and the flowers are in 

 loose, axillary or ter- 

 minal panicles. The 

 latter have four green- 

 ish - white sepals ; no 

 petals ; numerous sta- 

 mens ; and many one- 

 seeded carpels, each of 

 which, when ripe, is 

 tipped by the persistent 

 style that has become 

 very long and feathered. 

 The Common Hedge 

 IMustard [Sisymbrium 

 officinale — order Cruciferce) 

 is a very common roadside 

 plant, with stems and leaves 

 so closely set with hairs that 

 they effectually hold the 

 dust. It bears small, yellow 

 flowers, which appear during 

 June and July ; and it may 

 be easily distinguished from 

 allied plants by its long and 

 narrow, down}^ tapering 

 pods, which lie close against 

 the stem. Its stem grows 

 from one to two feet high, 

 and is freely branched. 



The Fehx Weed {S. 

 Sophia) of the same genus is 

 moderately common, grows 

 to about the same height, 

 and bears small, greenish- 

 yellow flowers from June to 

 August. The stem of this 



