50 Critciferce Erysimum. 



11. ERtSIMUM. 



Tall biennial or perennial herbs with narrow entire leaves 

 and yellow or orange flowers. Lateral sepals saccate at the 

 base. Pod elongated, roundish or 4-angled ; seeds not winged, 

 oblong, in one row. Europe, Asia, and North America. Name 

 from l^uo), to draw blisters. 



1, E. Peroffskianum. This showy annual is a great favour- 

 ite on account of its deep reddish orange-coloured blossoms 

 and neat habit. From the Caucasus. E. dsper, syn. E. 

 Arkansanum, is similar to the last, but with lemon-coloured 

 flowers. E. Marschallianum is another Caucasian species, with 

 bright yellow flowers. 



12. BRASSICA. 



We introduce this genus merely to notice the varieties with 

 ornamental foliage, imported some years ago from China. Their 

 habit recalls somewhat that of a palm, all the leaves being 

 tufted on the summit of a tall simple stem. But it is the 

 form and colour of the leaves that gives them their greatest 

 charm. The leaves are variously cut, dissected, feathered, 

 frilled, and curled, and exhibit every shade of rose and violet 

 purple, and in some varieties variegated with white. 



2. Pod nearly or quite as broad as long, dehiscing through- 

 out its whole length, and compressed at right angles to the 

 septi&m or partition. 



13. IONOPSIDIUM. 



Miniature glabrous annuals. Leaves sessile or petiolate, 

 spathulate or orbiculate, entire or 3-lobed. Flowers small, 

 white, violet, lilac, or flesh-coloured, on long peduncles. Sepals 

 spreading, equal at the base. Stamens free. Pouch broadly 

 oblong, laterally compressed, with 2 or 3 seeds in each cell. 

 Only two species are known. 



1. /. acaule. An exceedingly pretty little plant, not more 

 than 3 inches high. Flowers lilac, or white tinged with violet. 

 Native of Portugal. 



14. IBBRIS. 



Annual or herbaceous or shrubby diffuse perennials. Leaves 

 entire or pinnatifid, often fleshy. Flowers racemose or corym- 

 bose, white or purple. Sepals equal at the base. Petals un- 



