DIV. II 



ANGIOSPERMAE 



645 



curved. Endosperm wanting or reduced to a single layer of cells 

 coherent with the seed-coat (Figs. 657, 658). 



The number of species and their abundance make the Cruciferae one of our 

 most important native families of flowering plants. Their brightly coloured, 

 mostly yellow flowers render them conspicuous in various situations and at all 

 periods of the year. The nectaries, which are borne on the receptacle at the base 

 of the stamens, also show that the flowers are entomophilous. The family includes 

 a number of economic plants 

 and others cultivated for 

 their flowers. 



Chciranthus Cheiri, the 

 Wallflower (Figs. 656 A, 

 658 A). Matthiola, the 

 Stock. Numerous species 

 of Brassica have been long 

 in cultivation ; B. oleracea, 

 the Wild Cabbage, in its 

 various forms (a) sylvestris, 

 which occurs on the coasts 

 of Northern Europe and is 

 to be regarded as the wild 

 form ; (b) acephala, Borecole 

 or Kale ; (c) gonglyodes, 

 Turnip - rooted Cabbage ; 

 (d) gemmifera, Brussels 

 Sprouts ; (e) sabauda, 

 Savoys ; (/) capitata, the 

 Cabbage ; (g) botrytis, Cauli- 

 flower and Broccoli. Bras- 

 sica ca/itpestris, with the 

 cultivated forms (a) 

 annua, (b} oleifera, (c) rapi- 

 fera. Brassica napus, the 

 Turnip (a) annua, (b) olei- 

 lubrassica. Bras- 

 sica nigra, Black Mustard 

 (Figs. 657. 659), an annual 

 plant derived from the 

 eastern Mediterranean 

 region, was cultivated even 

 in ancient times. The radical leaves are long-stalked and lyrate with rounded 

 terminal lobes ; on ascending the copiously-branched stem they become lanceolate 

 and gradually smaller. The plant is glabrous except for some bristly hairs on the 

 upper surface of the leaf. Inflorescence a raceme ; the bright yellow flowers stand 

 out from the main axis, while the developing fruits are erect and applied to the 

 axis. Sinapis alba, White Mustard, is a hairy plant, distinguishable from the Black 

 Mustard by the long broadly-beaked fruits, the valves of which bear coarse bristly 

 hairs. The fruits project from the axis of the inflorescence. The seeds are 

 yellowish - white and twice as large as those of Brassica nigra. Anastatica 

 hierochuntica, Hose of Jericho, is an annual desert plant of X. Africa characterised 



FIG. 660. Capparis spinosa. Flowering branch and a young 

 fruit borne on the gynophore. ( nat. size.) 



