136 



A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



Florida, and westward. For true water-cress see No. 948. 

 See also, No. 383. 



398. White Mustard. Sinapis alba. {Bras sic a alba) A weedy 

 plant of waste places, scarcely 2 ft. tall. Leaves divided, the 

 terminal segment larger than the lateral ones. Flowers yellow, 

 about ^ in. wide, in a terminal raceme. Fruit a hairy pod, 

 about 2 in. long, prominently constricted between the seeds. 

 Often as an escape from gardens. Native of Europe. August. 

 A related species, the Charlock, 5. arucnsis, has almost un- 

 divided leaves and grows in similar places. See No. 383. 



399. Wild Radish. Raphaniis raphanistrnm. Often a trouble- 

 some weedy plant, 1-2 ft. high. Lower leaves deeply cut 

 and lobed, 4-7 in. long, the terminal lobe the largest. Upper 

 leaves smaller, few, and mostly not lobed or cut. Flowers 

 yellow, about ^ in. wide. Pod about i^ in. long, smooth, 

 constricted between the seeds. Ontario and Newfoundland 

 to Penn. August. Fig. 399. See No. 383. 



400. Hedge Mustard. Erysmium officinale. {Sisyinbrium 

 officinale.) An erect stiff, mostly hairy, plant, 1-3 ft. tall. 

 Leaves deeply divided, the terminal segments pointed and 

 oblong, the lateral ones curved towards the base of the leaf, 

 all irregularly toothed. Flowers yellow, less than % in. broad. 

 Pods about ^ in. long, tightly pressed against the stalk. A 

 common weed in waste places, nearly throughout North 

 America. Native of Europe and Asia. May-October. See 

 No. 383. 



