THE MUSTARD FAMILY 77 



Cursed Buttercup or Ditch Crowfoot (Ranunculus sceleratus L.) 

 is abundant along ditches, creeks and ponds; occasionally found 

 in wet pastures. It may be distinguished from Small-flowered 

 Buttercup by its thick hollow stems. 



Small-flowered Buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus L.) is common 

 in old pastures and open woods, less frequent in meadows and 

 cultivated fields. Its lower leaves are smooth, and round or 

 kidney-shaped. 



THE FUMITORY FAMILY (Fumariaceae). 



This family is represented by Golden Fumitory (Corydalis 

 aurea Willd.), an occasional weed in the wheat fields of Manitoba. 

 The plant sometimes appears in low lands and restricted areas 

 in such numbers as to crowd out grain crops sown on stubble. 

 It is a succulent biennial, smooth, hairless and branching, with 

 finely dissected leaves and golden-yellow flowers. Spring or fall 

 plowing or discing stubble lands before sowing will eradicate it. 



The seeds (Plate 73, fig. 27) are about 1/12 of an inch in 

 diameter, shining black, rounded-kidney-shaped, borne in many- 

 seeded, somewhat knotty, curved pods which split down one 

 side to shed the seeds. Sometimes found in commercial seeds. 



THE MUSTARD FAMILY (Cruciferae). 



Few families of plants are of such great economic importance 

 as the Mus-tard family, not only from the large number of trouble- 

 some weeds it contains, but also from the fact that not a single 

 unwholesome plant is found in it. Many species form well-known 

 and excellent articles of food, as the cabbage, turnip, radish, water- 

 cress, etc. Some of our worst weeds, however, most of which 

 have been introduced into Canada, belong to this family. Their 

 characteristics are easily recognized. Many of the Cruciferae 

 have in their roots, stems or seeds, odours or flavours which help 



