SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



591 



Linnaeus distinguished the SUiquosae, in which the fruit is a siliqua, from the 

 Siliculosae, in wliich it is a sliort silicula. The Siliquosae are further divided into 

 SUiquosae dehiscentes, with the usual type of siliqua, and Siliquosae lomcntaccae, in 

 which the siliqua breaks transversely into one-seeded joints. The Siliculosae are 



Fig. 5S5. — Cochlearia officinalis. 

 (After Baillon. ) 



Fig. 5S0.— Urassicci nigra (i iiat. size). 

 Official. 



also divided into Siliculosae dehiscentes and Siliculosae nucamcntaccac \vith in- 

 dehiscent fruits. The Siliculosae dehiscentes were later divided by A. P. de 

 Candolle into the .S' latiseptae with a broad septum and the S. angustiseptae in 

 which the septum is narrow. 



Tlie 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 



