TJTE ART ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



17 



vation of Watercrcsses was first introduced Ly a ]Mr. Bradbiiiy at Springlioad near 

 Gravesend, and has continued to spread, 2)articularly in localities favourably situated 

 with regard to S2)ring\s of water. Near Eicknianswoi-tli in Hertfordshire, AValtliani 

 Ahbev in Essex, Uxbridge in Middlesex, and various other places, there are plantations 

 many acres in extent, which are scarcely sufficient to sup])ly the great demand for this 

 popular salad herb during the season. It may not be ina})propriate here to mention that 

 the plant commonly known in our gardens as the Nasturtium, does not belong to the 

 Crucifers, but properly bears the name of Tropeeolum majiis. It has obtained the name 

 of Nasturtium on account of its warm taste, a quality not unlike that of the common 

 cress. The New Zealand Marsh Cress is edible, and was formerly eaten by the natives. 



GENUS IT. 

 BARBAREA {Brown.) The Herb of St. Barbara, or Winter Cress. 



Gexeeic CnARACTER. — Stout 01- slciider, erect, leafy, 

 glabrous herbs, usually with angled stems, and jnnnate or 

 pinnatifid leaves. Sepals sub-eroot. Petals clawed, yellow. 

 Pods erect, elongate, compressed, 4-gonous, with keeled or 



costate, straight, coriaceous, many-seeded valves. Seeds 

 oblong, in one series ; cotyledons accumbent. — Handbook of 

 New Zealand Flora, p. 11. 



Description, etc. — A common European genus, of which one species was cultivated 

 in former times in Britain, as a pot-herb. The New Zealand species, and also the 

 Australian, are stated to be the same as the British, which is very variable. B. vulgaris, 

 a double-flowered garden A^arietv, commonlv called the " Double Yellow Rocket," is very 

 ornamental. The name, Barharea, alludes to the plant being vulgarly called the " Herb 

 of St. Barbara." 



1. BARBAREA VULGARIS {Linn.) The Common Herb of St. Barbara. 



Specific Character. — Erect, rather rigid, stout, leafy, 

 1-2 ft. high, with green furrowed stems. Lower leaves 

 lyrate, pinnatifid ; lobes obovate-oblong, terminal, ovate and 

 sinuate. Upper leaves entire, sinuate, or pinnatifid. Flowers 



rather large. Pods stout, 11 in. long, x'y-i '"i- broad, erecto- 

 patent, broader than (heir terete pedicels; valves veined; 

 style siiort, straight. — Handboolc of A'eto Zealand Flora, p. 11. 



Description, etc.— This herb is indigenous to the Northern Island, and was 

 formerly used by the Natives as food. Upon the authority of Mr. Colenso, the native 

 name of this plant is " Toil." In Britain, B. vnlyaris was held as a herb of some 

 repute, when the field or brook furnished the only salads, but was banished from the 

 table by vegetables of better flavour. 



