[VOL. II. 



154 CRUCIFERAE. 



i. Berteroa incana (L/.) DC. Hoary 

 Alyssum. (Fig. 1789.) 



Alyssum incanum L> Sp. PI. 650. 1753. 

 Berteroa incana DC. Syst. a: 291. 1821. 



Erect or ascending, i-2 high, hoary-pubescent, 

 branching above. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, ft f - 

 i%' long, obtuse, entire or slightly undulate, the lower 

 narrowed into a petiole; flowers white, \"-\W broad; 

 pedicels ascending, 2 // ~3 // long in fruit; pod pubescenti 

 oblong, $"-4," long and about half as broad; cells 

 several-seeded; style i // -i^ // long; stigma minute. 



In waste places, Maine to Massachusetts, New Jersey 

 and Missouri. Adventive or naturalized from Europe, 

 becoming abundant. Racemes elongating, the flowers and 

 pods very numerous. June-Sept. 



37. HESPERIS L. Sp. PI. 663. 1753. 



Erect perennial or biennial herbs, pubescent with forked hairs, with simple leaves and 

 large racemose purple or white flowers. Stigma with 2 erect lobes. Siliques elongated, nearly 

 cylindric, the valves keeled, dehiscent, i-nerved. Seeds in I row in each cell, globose, wing- 

 less; cotyledons incumbent. [Name from Hesperus, evening, when the flowers are most 

 fragrant.] 



About 20 species, natives of Europe and Asia. 



i. Hesperis matronalis L/. Dame's 



Rocket or Dame's Violet. 



(Fig. 1790.) 



Hesperis malronalis L. Sp. PI. 663. 1753. 



Erect, simple or sparingly branched above, 2- 

 3 high, pubescent. Lower leaves 3'-8' long, 

 tapering into a petiole, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute, dentate with minute teeth, pubescent on 

 both sides; upper leaves similar but smaller, ses- 

 sile or short -petioled; flowers 8 // -i2 // broad, 

 pink, purple or white, fragrant; blade of the 

 petals widely spreading, about as long as the 

 claw; pods 2 / -4 / long, spreading or ascending, 

 contracted between the seeds when ripe. 



In fields and along roadsides, escaped from gar- 

 dens, Massachusetts to Pennsylvania and Iowa. 

 Native of Europe and Asia. May-Aug. Old Kng- 

 lish names are Queen's or Dame's Gilliflower; 

 Night-scented, Rogue's or Winter Gilliflower; 

 Damask Violet. 



Family 33. CAPPARIDACEAE Lindl. Nat. Syst Ed. 2, 61. 1836. 



CAPKR FAMILY. 



Herbs or shrubs (rarely trees), with a watery sap, alternate or very rarely 

 opposite, simple or palmately compound leaves and axillary or terminal, solitary 

 or racemose, regular or irregular, mostly perfect flowers. Sepals 4-8. Petals 

 4 (rarely none), sessile or clawed. Receptacle elongated or short. Stamens 

 6-00 , not tetradynamous, inserted on the receptacle; anthers oblong. Ovary 

 sessile or stipitate; style generally short; ovules oo , borne on parietal placentae. 

 Fruit a capsule or berry. Seeds mainly reniform in our species; endosperm 

 none; embryo generally coiled. 



A family of about 35 genera and 400 species, mostly of warm regions. 



