WHITE GROUP 



The small jloivcrs, so small as almost to escape notice, are 

 borne on leafless scapes, from i to 5 inches high. They are 

 cleistogamous, not fitted for cross-pollination, but pollinated 

 in the buds, before the flowers open. Introduced from 

 Europe, growing in sandy soil along roadsides and in waste 

 places. 



D. ca.rolinia.na.. — Sepals and petals, 4. Pod, smooth, linear, on 

 a short stalk. Leaves, alternate, hairy, oblong, sessile. A small 

 plant, less than 5 inches high, with little white flowers in a raceme 

 which becomes about r inch long in fruit. Sometimes the petals 

 are wanting. March to May. 



Not so well known as, but earlier than, the whitlow grass. 

 This species, coming into bloom in March, is one of our earliest 

 flowers. 



Sandy and waste fields from Massachusetts southward and 

 westward. 



Wild Peppergrass 



Lepidium 'birglnicum. — Family, Mustard. Stamens, 2. Pod, 

 roundish, notched above, divided by a partition into 2 1 -seeded 

 cells, which are flattened at right angles to the partition. Leaves, 

 thin, tapering at the base, upper lance-shaped, deeply toothed, 

 the lower often cut. Flowers, very small, arranged in long racemes. 

 Taste peppery. 2 feet high or less. 



A weed found along roadsides and in waste fields. 



Shepherd's Purse 



Capselta Bursa -pastoris. — Family, Mustard. Leaves, mostly 

 clustered at root, with a few arrow-shaped, scattered along the 

 stem, all much and variously cut, sessile. Small, white flowers 

 grow in long racemes, the triangular pods, called silicles, rapidly 

 forming below. Pod, 2-valved, valves boat - shaped. 6 to 20 

 inches high. Common weeds. 



Mouse-ear Cress 



Sisymbrium Thalianum. — Family, Mustard. Leaves, oblong, en- 

 tire or slightly toothed. A small plant, branched, rough hairy .it 

 base. The 4-sided pods are longer than the pedicels. Early spring. 



Imported from Europe, and found here in old, rocky fields 

 from Massachusetts to Minnesota and southward. 



Water Cress 



Radkula Nasturtium- aquaticum. — Family, Mustard. Flowers, 

 as in others of this Family. Pods, short. Leaves, pinnate. 

 (i 79 



