18 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Cruciferce. 
Hab. Georgetown and Hobarl ite, amongst stones in a basaltic soil, Backhouse, Gunn, 
efc.-— (PL Oct, Nov.) (v. v.) 
A remarkably distinct little species, forming small, depressed, wiry, rigid, hoary tufts. Stem very woody at 
the base, with much divided, decumbent, slender, pubescent branches, and tomentose or villous branchlets. Leaves 
\ inch long, narrow-linear or elliptical-oblong, acute, convex above, with generally a central groove, and covered 
with soft, short hairs, very densely tomentose below, with appressed wool. Flowers small, ±-% inch broad, sessile. 
Sepals linear-oblong, acute, densely pubescent and hairy, coriaceous. Petals obcordate, but not deeply or broadly 
notched. Stamens few ; filaments quite free. Carpels two, densely tomentose and villous on the surface ; walls of 
their cavity white with dense stellate pubescence. Ovules four in each carpel. Seeds with a pale brown testa and 
small aril. — This is easily distinguished by its small size, hairiness, and leaves, whose margins are not revolute as 
far as the midrib. 
Nat. Ord. V. CRUCIFERCE. 
The Crucifem of Tasmania and Australia (of which about forty species are known) are more Euro- 
pean in character than those of South Africa ; all the genera, except Stenopetalnm, are more typical of the 
northern hemisphere than of the southern; and none of them present any marked deviation from the 
Order in habit or characters. The Tasmanian species are much more numerous than those of New Zealand, 
and of the natives of the latter country three are also common to Tasmania. Most of the species abound 
in an essential oil, and have eminently antiscorbutic properties ; so many become succulent pot-herbs by 
culture, that experiments should be instituted to this effect with the Tasmanian species. 
Gen. I. CARD AMINE, L. 
Sepala 4, erecta v. subpatentia, basi a^qualia. Petala 4, lamina dilatata patente. Stamina 6, eden- 
tula. Stigma capitatum. Siliaua bivalvis, linearis, compressa; valvis enervibus v. venis tenuibus; septo 
tenui. Semina plurima, pendula, funiculis gracilibus ; eotyUdo libus accumbentibus. 
Chiefly a European and temperate North American g< this, al-o round in both Arctic and Antarctic regions. — 
Slender or rarely robust, generally glabrous herbs, usually with divided leaves, that taste strongly of cress, and 
white or pink flowers, in terminal racemes. Sepals four, usually erect, rarely spreading. Petals with a narrow erect 
claw and spreading limb. Stamens six ; filaments without teeth or notches. Pod compressed, two-valved, narrow 
linear, with elastic valves and a blunt style. Seeds with slender funicles. (Name from K a P 8ia, the heart, and 8afiaw, 
to fortify ; in allusion to its stimulating properties.) 
1. Cardamine radicata (Hook. fil. Ic. PI. t. 882) ; glaberrima, robusta, foliosa, radice crassa multi- 
cipite, foliis radicalibus plurimis obovato-spathulatis obtusis grosse lobato-serratis caulinis subsessilibus, 
caulibus floriferis erectis brevibus fructiferis elongatis, floribus parvis albis, sepalis lineari-oblongis obtusis, 
petalis spathulatis, siliquis strictis erectis anguste elliptico-lanceolatis stylo breviusculo terminatis, valvis 
subenerviis planis, seminibus obovatis compressis impunctatis. {Gunn, 2027.) 
Hab. Summit of Mount Olympus, in crevices of basaltic columns, elev. 5000 feet, Gunn. — (PL Jan.) 
Mr. Gunn says of this curious plant, that a number of procumbent brittle branches (rhizomes) spring from 
one root, and bear no leaves except at their extremities. — Rhizomes often as thick as the finger, 6-8 inches long. 
Leave* very numerous, spreading on the rocks, 2-4 inches long, spathulate, narrowed into petioles, coarsely toothed. 
flowering &w 8-4 im bes high, very leafy. Flowers numerous, small, white. Pods $ inch long, narrowed at both 
ends, with a short style: calces flat; sn-ds compressed, not dotted. 
2. Cardamine stylosa (DC. Syst. ii. 248) ; elata (2-4-pedalis), glaberrima, ramosa, foliis sagit- 
