ON SOME COMMON GARDEN PLANTS 



the cabbage are modified descendants of a single 

 species that grows wild along the Mediterranean 

 and Atlantic Coasts of Europe. Turnips are 

 descended from another closely related species 

 having the same habitat. The radish, horseradish, 

 water-cress, and mustard are other members of 

 the family that are not quite so closely related. 



The members of this group occupy a position 

 of considerable importance in the vegetable 

 garden; chiefly, however, because of their various 

 flavors rather than because of their nutritious 

 value. There is comparatively little nourishment 

 in the substance of any of them, except the 

 cabbage. 



From the standpoint of the plant developer, 

 the members of the cabbage tribe have exceptional 

 interest, not so much because of possibilities of 

 future development as because of what they 

 reveal of past development. 



If, as is believed, they have all sprung from a 

 single species and within comparatively recent 

 times, they afford highly interesting illustrations 

 of the varied lines of development that the off- 

 spring of a single plant may be induced to 

 follow. 



Thus the edible head of the cauliflower and 

 broccoli consist in reality of thickened and con- 

 solidated flower peduncles. The edible part of the 



[61] 



